Rhys Darg took his goal total to three from four starts with an opportunist strike to clinch a hard fought victory for Chris Tracey’s team at the Cricklefield Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Waltham Forest, after their good start to the season that had seen them inflict a rare defeat on Suffolk rivals Needham Market, had hit a bad patch with no wins in their previous eight games. But they battled hard, not looking like a team without a recent victory and it took a fine all round performance from Tracey’s side to make it three wins on the trot without conceding a goal.

The manager was forced to make a change with defender Adam Dolby sidelined with a dead leg. With other defenders on the injury list it gave coach Jack Wignall the opportunity to make his first league start of the season. In a reshuffled defence Ashley Sloots also returned at the expense of forward David Lorimer who dropped to the bench.

Forest are not known for their home support but the match attracted their second best league gate of the season with 81 fans attending thanks to a good travelling support from AFC.

Overall it was a game of few clear cut scoring chances. The home side created early pressure but they got little change out a solid AFC defence that was feature throughout the game.

The highlight of the first half was no doubt AFC’s goal scored by Darg after 19 minutes. There looked little danger when the ball was forced towards the Forest goal. But Darg chased a lost cause and was rewarded, despite the home keeper rushing off his line, colliding with Darg who managed to keep on his feet and get a final touch to force the ball over the line.

From then on AFC had the better of the half in terms of possession but chances of adding to their total were almost non-existent.

Half time: Waltham Forest 0 AFC Sudbury 1

The second half followed a similar pattern with AFC camping for long periods in the Forest half without threatening the home goal.

Leading by just the one goal there was always the danger that the home side would break for an equaliser and it almost came after 58 minutes when a 25-yard shot took a deflection but Danny Gay saved well at the expense of corner that came to nothing. It was his only serious save of the game.

Try as they may AFC could not add to their total but they seldom looked like conceding an equaliser and were well worth their win.

So a rise up the table and now two home games to try and get even further up it.