AFC’s five game league non-losing run came to an end against a good visiting side who on this form will be amongst the front runners at the end of the season.

Chris Tracey made a couple of changes with Steve Adams injured Rhys Darg came into central defence, while Richard Howell regained a place on the right side of midfield.

There was a minutes silence before the game in memory of those who have given their lives for this country and those who fight daily to protect us.

Very early on Darg gave away a free kick as his timing appeared to be out. With seven minutes on the clock Dave Wareham got to the byline on the left and pulled the ball back but it was behind the incoming Howell.

With ten minutes gone Moore for the visitors put in a great downward header that Danny gay did well to tip away. AFC had a corner taken by Shinn from the left and from it Darg had an overhead kick that went straight into keeper Imber’s arms. He released the ball quickly and Enfield broke to the other end to earn a corner of their own. From it Osei controlled the ball and he turned and shot home for Enfield to take the lead.

A minute later Osei should have increased the lead but he shot horribly wide when unmarked. The AFC defending was not good by any stretch of the imagination and again they were cut open by Wallace who got the ball to Hall whose fierce shot was tipped over the bar by Gay. From the corner again slack marking allowed a free header this time from Moore. It went wide.

The visitors’ lead was increased on twenty-five minutes from the penalty spot. Darg clashed with Moore on the edge of the area. It was a collision at best and outside the area, not however the vision of the referee who had to consult his assistant before pointing to the spot. Hope stepped up to score.

The AFC manager decided a change was needed just after the half-hour mark with Daniel Emmanuel coming on to replace Howell. A minute later Hope got through the home defence but with only Gay to beat he shot high over the goal; this was followed by Ewang doing the same shortly afterwards.

James Baker ploughing a lonely furrow up front, little was seen of Jon Docker on his home debut, was spoken to by the match official, seemingly for questioning some of his decisions. A minute later Baker appeared to just block tackle for the ball, but the man in black was of another opinion and was extremely quick to reach for a yellow card for the AFC forward.

Half time AFC Sudbury 0 Enfield Town 2

The second half started with neither side dominating, the visitors happy with their lead and AFC endevouring to get into the game.

On sixty-two minutes there seemed hope for the home side when Darg had a great well directed looping shot go goal ward and looked to be in but it cannoned back off the crossbar and from the rebound Docker had a shot blocked.

Fox came on taking over from Docker, going to central defence with Darg going to play just behind Baker up front. Enfield countered with Matata taking Osei’s place. Adam Dalby for AFC did well on the right hand side before Michael Shinn shot over with fifteen minutes left.

Ashley Sloots was sacrificed for the attacking option of David Lorimer and he was immediately in the action putting the visitors’ defence under pressure. Emmanuel was getting the ball on the right and causing problems but could not penetrate enough.

Enfield could have wrapped it up with nine minutes left, there was an almighty scramble in the AFC box but they could not put the ball away. AFC were not giving up and Darg went on a run into the penalty area where Kirby who was booked for his trouble brought him down. Baker coolly slotted the ball home to giving the majority of the 330-crowd hope.

Hope went off and Ailey took over with three minutes of normal time left as AFC with the crowd now making a noise and behind the team kept the ball in the Enfield half.

The referee signaled five minutes of stoppage time and there was a feeling that something could be gotten from the game by AFC. Try as the might it was not to be as Enfield weathered storm with Ewang getting booked for time wasting by kicking the ball away.

So AFC’s non losing run was not stretched to six games, but had they not been sloppy in the first half and shown the same determination as in the second it could have been.

AFC manager Chris Tracey will probably have learnt a lot about some of his players after this game. It is how they respond that matters.

These two teams meet in just over forty-eight hours time in the Third Round of the Ryman League Cup at the Queen Elizabeth ll Stadium. No doubt both sides will utilise their squads in the tie.