A.F.C. Sudbury welcomed Waltham Forest to the MEL Group Stadium looking to maintain their play-off credentials against Waltham Forest.

Sudbury kicked-off the game attacking the car-park end of the stadium. Waltham Forest attacked from the off with Jamie Moore sending Efe Echanomi free through the middle to chase a dangerous ball, but Danny Gay was quick off his line to gather the ball. At the other end Luke Ingram found space along the right wing and his cross was palmed away by Eric Barratt in the Waltham Forest goal. The opening twenty minutes were punctuated by a litany of mistakes; mis-placed passes and high balls were the order of the day.

On twenty minutes James Baker sent a shot high over the Waltham Forest goal in a rare effort on goal. A minute later Efe Echanomi and James Smith tackled on halfway and Echanomi remained prone on the turf, calling for the physio immediately. After a delay, the unfortunate Echanomi was carried from the field with a suspected broken leg. The best move of the game thus far came on the restart. James Baker found Luke Ingram whose fine run saw him lay the ball off to Robbie Martin whose shot flew high over the crossbar. In the twenty-ninth minute Manu Dagher hit a fine shot that Danny Gay finger-tipped onto the post

James Baker Heads The AFC Goal Home His 17th Of The Season

On thirty-sevens Adam Dalby exchanged passes with Luke Ingram whose shot went high and wide over the crossbar. Two minutes later A.F.C. Sudbury grabbed the lead against the dogged Waltham Forest defence. Adam Dalby crossed from the right wing and James Baker rose high to head past Waltham Forest ‘keeper Eric Barratt.

Three minutes before the break Danny Emmanuel received the ball from Luke Ingram, but the ball was whipped from his feet before he could unleash his shot. Michael Shinn’s right wing corner was headed straight at Barratt in the Waltham Forest goal as a scrappy half ended with the home side holding the advantage.

H-T 1-0

A.F.C. Sudbury were stunned in the forty-eighth minute when Retkoceri found the net from inside the home penalty area. Dave Wareham came into the action ten minutes into the half to replace Luke Ingram as A.F.C. Sudbury looked to regain the initiative. On fifty-nine minutes a left-wing corner from Michael Shinn was met by a Nathan Clarke header on the run and his effort grazed the crossbar. A minute later Danny Emmanuel on the left wing found Robbie Martin who worked enough space to send a placed shot wide of the right hand post. On sixty-five minutes Waltham Forest grabbed an unlikely lead. Mbive Lokando found space in the home penalty area to fire a shot towards goal that Danny Gay saved well. The loose ball fell, however, to Manu Dagher who made no mistake from close range.

A shocked Sudbury pressed hard to gain the equaliser. On seventy minutes James Baker sent a curled effort straight into the arms of Barratt. A minute later James Smith rose high to head Michael Shinn’s free-kick into the arms of a grateful Barratt in the Forest goal. With a quarter of an hour remaining, Sam Clarke came into the action to replace Jemel Fox.

On seventy-four minutes Sudbury were highly unfortunate not to level the tie. James Baker sent a delightful shot against the foot of the post with Barratt well beaten, but could only send the rebound straight back into the grasp of the Waltham Forest ‘keeper. With five minutes remaining James Baker had a good chance open up from seven yards after a fine run on the left by David Wareham and a pin-point-pass, but he screwed his shot horribly wide of the right hand post. Nathan Clarke was booked for a foul as time ran out and a frustrated A.F.C. Sudbury were left to rue missed chances and ill-luck in front of a resolutely defended Waltham Forest goal.

Richard Whiting