A.F.C. Sudbury welcomed Sutton Coldfield Town to a frosty King’s Marsh Stadium for this re-arranged Zamaretto League tie.

Edward Booth’s third minute free-kick was easily dealt with by the Sudbury defence as the game commenced in front of a meagre crowd. Sudbury’s first real attack came when Craig Hughes’ fine run along the left wing saw him cross just too far in front of the marauding Stuart Walker. Matthew Dodd’s right wing corner was headed behind over his own crossbar by Danny Brown, taking no chances in the face of the presence of the Sutton Coldfield strikers.

On fifteen minutes Sudbury took the lead. Daniel Emmanuel’s mazy run along the right saw him cut into the penalty area between two defenders and send a pass to Sam Clarke on the right edge of the penalty area. His fine low shot beat the dive of Stephen Jackson. Sutton Coldfield replied with Richard Ball chasing a ball into the penalty area and Richard Wilmot racing off his line to make an excellent blocking save.

On nineteen minutes Sudbury lost their lead in unfortunate circumstances. Danny Brown struck out his leg to clear an innocuous ball across the area and succeeded only in putting it into his own goal. Neither side looked to be creating too much in the way of direct chances on the crisp and hardening surface, as the game went through a scrappy stage.

A Gareth Heath free-kick on thirty-six minutes hung dangerously in the visitor’s penalty area, but was cleared away. On the stroke of half-time, Jammille Matt capitalised on some hesitant defending to poach a goal at the end of a very ordinary half of football on a freezing evening.



H-T 1-2

The first action of note in the second half saw Sudbury goal-scorer Sam Clarke shown a straight red card for a tackle on half-way in the fifty-third minute. It was a cruel blow to the home side, losing the engine-room of their midfield to a tackle which looked anything but x-rated. Sutton Coldfield’s Craig Owen was shown a yellow card by referee Stobbart for high feet as the match official warmed his hands writing feverishly in his notebook.

A finely crafted ball from deep by Curtis Haynes-Brown picked out Craig Hughes whose shot flashed past the left hand upright. Sutton Coldfield pressed hard with a scramble in the home penalty area seeing a fine low save by Richard Wilmot and a clearance by Danny Brown. On seventy-seven minutes the visitors broke with Dodd crossing to Bell whose far post header was directed straight at Richard Wilmot, well positioned in the home goal.

Sudbury threw Jack Jones into the action with Steve Adams making way and Craig Hammond left the action with Danny Swain entering the fray. There was a great chance for Sutton Coldfield Town to seal the win when Richard Wilmot missed a left wing corner and Jackson blazed his snapped shot wide. Chances were few and far between in a scrappy half of what had overall been a disjointed match. Sudbury failed to find the equaliser on a frustrating and unfortunate night for the team with chances at a premium and luck simply not on their side.

Richard Whiting