A local derby and an important game as AFC need to get back on track after a few bad results and also they required points in The West Suffolk Group of The Chell Trophy to have a chance of qualifying for the Knock-Out stage, as only the winners of each group go through to the Semi-finals.

AFC Sudbury Reserves had Bradley Hughes back in their line up after a season away  to face a Long Melford side that contained six first team squad players (two of which have been at AFC in Shane Barnes and Rowland Auert). So a bit of extra spice for this encounter.

It was a typical frantic cup tie start to the game with some end to end play with chances at both end;- with Ryan Kent dangerous up front for Sudbury – in the sixth minute the returning Brad Hughes laid off the ball well for him and the shot required Glenerley, in the Melford goal,to make a great save. Four minutes later Shane Barnes flapped under pressure from Kent but his shot went just wide.

On the quarter of an hour there was a lovely flowing move involving Sharp, Chisholm, Hughes and Kent and three minutes later Sudbury got ahead when more pressure from Kent won AFC a free kick.  From Chisholm’s lovely ball in there was Adam Holmes coming in at the far post to head home.

Sudbury were definitely the better side with a solid defence with Jake Jackson prominent and Matt Norton making good saves  when necessary. Controlling the midfield were Brown and Sharp who were in command in the centre, and Ifield and Kent dangerous wide while Hunt and Hughes were always causing problems for the home defence.

Jacob Brown was feeding the forwards with some good passes and on the half hour he picked up the ball after a lovely inter–passing move to shoot low past the keeper for Sudbury’s second.

Melford were not sitting back and were looking to get back on terms but Jackson and Theobald were doing a resolute job in the centre while Chisholm and Holmes were cutting out the threats wide and when possible getting forward themselves. Generally it was the home team on the back foot and a little hesitant  as Brown, Sharp, Ifield and Kent pressed forward.

Sudbury’s third came in the forty-second minute from a great run by Steve Chisholm whose pass was well met by Lee Sharp before he sent a powerful shot whistling into the goal, giving Glenerley no chance.

Half Time: Long Melford Reserves 0  AFC Sudbury Reserves 0

Sudbury made a substitution at half time with Danny Dance coming on for Theobald with Hunt dropping back into defence. More controlled pressure from AFC brought results when a ball into the area from Dance found Lee Ifield but as he turned goalwards he was brought down – penalty this was well converted by Ryan Kent.

AFC made another substitution that brought on Luke Hinds for Scott Hunt. Ten minutes into the second half Sudbury added a fifth from another great team passing move begun by Holmes, with Steve Chisholm prominent, and well finished off by Jacob Brown.

Long Melford to their credit did not lie down and accept their fate when in the sixty-first minute they cut through the midfield with a lovely move which ended with Chris Williamson scoring a well taken and deserved consolation goal.

In the sixty-seventh minute Stepney Thurgood replaced the tiring hard running Hughes – the substitutions did not diminish the great team play from AFC . Sudbury could have added a sixth with a beautiful forward move involving Kent, Thurgood and Dance but Danny’s shot went across the goal just missing the far post. Back came Melford and Norton had a save to make from a good low on target shot.

The entertaining action continued right up to the final whistle although there were no further real goal scoring opportunities.

A great team performance from AFC Sudbury Reserves against a Melford side that contained a number of first team squad players and at a ground they do not usually flourish. A good result  achieved by playing entertaining football that impressed the large crowd.

The Wizard Of Oz