The final result was exactly the sort that last season saw AFC fail to make the Ryman North play-offs. After leading comfortable by two goals at the break, the side failed to consolidate and eventually conceded the equaliser to a team they should have comfortably beaten, in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

There was a surprise when the squad was announced, in that in the previous twenty fours hours two more players had been added. In came forward Piers Wixon, who had a spell previously with the club and last season was with Ryman North champions East Thurrock United. The other was full back and local boy Ashley Sloots who has spent the last four seasons with Bury Town and had started pre-season with Needham Market.

The weather had turned autumnal, with heavy rain poring down on the vastly improved Oakside pitch as the teams came out for this opener. Players were slipping on the wet surface, but on seven minutes Robbie Martin playing, in what is hoped to be his new position of right back, went in hard on Spillane and was promptly booked. A minute later Richard Howell had AFC’s first shot of the new season.

Referee Yeo, who was not to have the greatest of games showed early inconsistently when he failed to book Nougher as he ploughed into James Baker. The AFC forward was to suffer a number of harsh calls against him all afternoon.

On fourteen minutes AFC’s first goal of 2011/12 came. Martin took a throw in on the right hand side and Dave Wareham collected the ball and got into the box and fired home.

Five minutes later Wareham again was in action firing twice in close succesion at May in the Redbridge goal. Redbridge threatened with Trenkel putting the ball over the AFC bar following a corner. There was cheer from the AFC supporters in the main stand when Secretary David Webb arose from his seat to retrieve the ball and throw it gracefully back into the field of play.

Midway through the half Martin was looking a little unsure, the early booking no doubt having an effect on him. On twenty-six minutes AFC’s lead was doubled. Wareham took a right wing corner and after the ball came across though a bunch of player there was central defender Tom Deveaux to shoot home.

Just past the half-hour mark Danny Gay making his debut in the AFC goal collected well from a right wing cross from Durrant and was then alert to punch away another through ball. Baker was again fouled but again his assailant was only spoken to. On thirty-six minutes Howell had a chance to increase the vistors lead but from a Wareham free kick he guided the ball over the bar after Baker had headed it on.

May was guilty of a shocking clearance from the home goal but Wareham could not capitalise when he shot right footed following a good through ball by Baker. With two minutes of the half left Nathan Clarke showed why he is back at the club when he got in a great tackle in the box to deny Dark. Fox made a poor headed clearance and allowed Dark in but he shot high over the bar and into the wet undergrowth behind the goal giving the enthusiastic young ball boy there more work on a wet afternoon.

Half-Time; Redbridge 0 AFC Sudbury 2

When the sides re-appeared the sun was shining and it was back to an English summer. The first half had been fairly comfortable for the Suffolk side, but the second was to be somewhat different as the Essex/Londoners fought back.

Richard Howell Should Have Increased Lead

Before any real threat from the home side AFC should have increased their lead. A Michael Shinn free kick from the left found it way to Howell on his own in front of an open goal but somehow he put it over. It would probably been the death kneel for Redbridge, but they then made a number of substitutions that vastly improved their team. Sendall replaced Best and immediately caused a problem with a long throw. Stamp took over from Bradbury and Oxby from Nougher as they went at AFC.

The changes paid dividends on sixty-six minutes for them as another long throw from Sendall in to the AFC goal area was only pushed down by Gay, who may have had the sun in his eyes, into the path of Dark who kicked the ball home through a ruck of players.

Howell came off and Wixon took over up front, but it was the home side that were creating all the pressure, with AFC seeming unable to put together their normal quick passing game. Stamp whose lightning pass was a problem went down near to Fox in the AFC penalty area. The referee pointed for a corner while his assistant put his flag across his chest for a penalty. The officials conferred and in the end a corner resulted much to the relief of all connected with AFC.

The home side were certainly being attack minded and another long throw by Sendall caused problems, before Ryan Henshaw came on after seventy-eight minutes taking the place of Wareham as sort to strengthen their midfield. Martin went down and stayed down and then Henshaw was clattered by Dark who was booked.

With five minutes of normal time left on the clock Baker appeared to be pulled in the box but again he was given nothing and in frustration kicked

James Baker Not Protected

the ball away and was booked. Seemingly the big striker became fed up with no protection from the man in the middle. He was fouled again on eight-seven minutes but again his offender was only spoken to.

There had been enough stoppages and substitutions to take the game into the ninety-fourth minute and the Redbridge took advantage. A right-wing corner came in and the AFC failed to cope and Sendall flicked the ball home for the equaliser.

In the final minute of the game AFC had a chance from a corner but the homesters keep it out to earn a well deserved second half point.

AFC will have to look at themselves and quickly get themselves together and eradicate errors from their game or this season could take soon take on the  same look as lasts.