The last two pre-season games were against top SIL teams – Senior Division Haughley and neighbours Division 2 Bacton. The excitement began before the kick-off with non appearance of the referee so AFC Sudbury linesman Dan Freeman took up the whistle – going on to have a good game. Well done and thanks Dan.

Haugley were experienced, big, strong, direct and looked comfortable on the ball while Sudbury were finding it difficult to settle with Matt Norton busy and having to make a few timely saves with Adams and Hammond having to win important balls. Sudbury were moving the ball around but the final one was was not there.

Half way through the half AFC began to look more composed with Thurgood, Smith and Ifield putting together some nice moves; and from this combination a goal came with Smith releasing Ifield with a great weighted ball who lobbed the keeper nicely from 25 yards.

The Sudbury confidence now increased with Kent and Hunt putting pressure on the Haughley defence. But it was the home side who got the goal when they scored close in with the defence not picking up the move.

The home keeper had to smother a Hunt shot just before Haughley were awarded a penalty when the attacking player was brought down in the area as the defence opened up, from which they took the lead.

Haughley looked to increase their lead with Norton in the Sudbury goal coping well against the big and powerful home forwards and having to make good saves and takes.

Half Time: Haughley United 2  – 1 AFC Sudbury  Res

Sudbury were on the attack from the restart with chances falling to Ifield and Kent and five minutes in it was this combination that produced the equaliser when Lee Ifield made a quick run before sending a lovely deep cross over which was well met by the incoming Ryan Kent to head home at the far post.

Jacob Brown had a great long shot that was dipping goalwards but the ball just went over the bar. Great foresight seeing the keeper just off his line. Sudbury were in the ascendency at the moment as demonstrated by a flowing move begun by Kent through Jackson and finished by Smith.

On the hour Chisholm came off the bench to replace Cullivan and immediately was effective with a free kick in from the left then was doing good defensive work alongside the dominant Adams and Hammond. When the defence was opened Matt Norton was there to save. Jake Jackson was having a solid game at the back but was also involved in going forward as with a sweeping move involving Hunt, Brown, Smith and Guyon. Chisholm’s good balls in were chased on by the lively pair of Guyon and Skipper, on for Kent, but the game finished with a flourish from Haughley with the keeper and Adams having to make important stops to preserve the 2-2 scoreline.

A good workout against a strong direct team that did not allow Sudbury much time to play the football they like but learned to cope with this style of play.

The Wizard Of Oz