Well the new season started at Stoneylands in weather more like October than July in front of a crowd just over the 150 mark.

Manager Nicky Smith sent his team out with new goalkeeper Danny Gay between the posts, and returning man Richard Howell in attack. With trialists Gary Bansor, a defender who was with Carmarthen Town last season in central defence and forward from Bildeston Rangers David Lorimer up front.

Leading scorer from last season James Baker is still away on a vacation, and another new signing Chris Sullivan on a coaching course, while Liam Whittaker was also holidaying.

The game started with Gay being called into action early on tipping over a fierce shot from Cann. There was a scare early on with captain Sam Clarke going down and newly installed physio Tony Brightwell coming on, the midfield man recovered but was not happy with the tackle.

Robbie Martin had a shot that Wood pushed around the post as AFC settled down to playing some good attractive passing football. With Dave Wareham on one side and Martin on the other they looked to attack when ever possible.

Tom Devaux at the centre of a three man back line, Bansor on one side and Fox on the other, left the fray with a slight thigh twinge after 21 minutes, player-coach Jack Wignall taking over.

There was a chance for AFC to score but Howell and Clarke got in each other’s way after a good cross from Martin. Howell had another chance after Shinn splayed a ball out to Wareham and he crossed into his path, but it was wide.

AFC took the lead on 35minutes when Wareham crossed and Lorimer had an effort blocked but Ryan Henshaw was on hand to head home from close range.

Melford were being perhaps over competitive at times in what was after all a ‘friendly’, had a chance to equalise with Cann shooting over after Fox was guilty of being the wrong side of his man. Gay had to be alive to tip a Westcott shot around the post as the half drew to a close.

Half time; Long Melford 0 AFC Sudbury 1

Melford made a number of changes at the start of the second half, the only one for AFC was Fred Howe taking over in goal from Gay.

The visitors continued to play their football at a fast tempo. Fox put in a tackle that showed why he won awards last season as he denied the Melford attacker.

Just before the hour mark Lorimer was guilty of a bad miss after good work by Wareham and Henshaw.

Howe reminded the AFC manager that he is a good keeper when Daw put Westcott through and somehow the AFC man got down and scooped the ball one handed to deny the Melford forward.

The lead was increased on 69 minutes when Waterfield tripped Howell in the penalty area and Wareham stepped up to score from the spot.

Howe again was called into action to deny ex AFC man Skeggs , before AFC made a change with Holmes replacing Fox and a few minutes later Emmanuel and Brown taking over from Henshaw and Clarke.

The remaining few minutes were played out with the highlight being a dipping free kick from Howell that Wood had to be alive to tip over.

So a win and a good workout for both sides.