Arlesey's Armadillo Stadium has in the past been a happy hunting ground for AFC teams and it looked as if Rhys Darg’s first half goal would secure another victory. However the home side who have only been beaten once at home this term shared the honours with a last gasp equaliser direct from a free kick deep into stoppage time.

Conceding late goals is always disappointing but for most of the second half AFC had been on the back foot and only some fine saves by Richard Wilmot coupled with some desperate defending and poor finishing by the hosts prevented an earlier equaliser.

AFC made two changes with defender Darg returning from suspension and new signing Blair Hammond, a former Ipswich Town youth team player, making his debut wide left, at the expense of Steve Adams and Steve Walker who dropped to the bench.

The pitch was in good condition bearing in mind the frozen overnight weather that resulted in several postponements.
AFC started brightly and Craig Hughes forced home keeper Ian Browne into an early save with his legs at the expense of a corner.That came to nothing but AFC won a second corner after 19 minutes and from it took the lead when Browne failed to gather Gareth Heath's flag kick and Darg stabbed the loose ball home.

Five minutes later a dazzling run by Curtis Haynes-Brown earned AFC a third corner but this time the keeper was fouled.Little had been seen of the home side as an attacking force but they came close to an equaliser after 25 minutes when an in swinging free kick from Mark Coulson flashed across the face of the AFC goal and Derek Brown only just failed to get his head on the ball at the far post.

After 34 minutes Wilmot was called into his first serious save as the home side piled on the pressure from another dead ball situation when Coulson found Joe Reynolds unmarked 20 yards out but his rasping volley was well tipped over by the AFC keeper.

Three minutes later AFC created a good opening to extend their lead when a fine build-up sent Craig Hammond clear but Browne saved his angled shot with his legs.

Half time: Arlesey Town 0 AFC Sudbury 1

Early in the second half AFC’s exciting recent signing Daniel Emmanuel made a mazy run down the right but his cross into the danger area failed to find a colleague. Then a shot on the turn from Craig Hammond was saved by Browne.

The fortunes for the hosts changed when they made three substitutions in quick succession and they began to pile on the pressure which almost brought an equaliser after 64 minutes when Stuart Sinclair’s close range header looked destined for the back of the net. But Wilmot made the save of the game diving to his left to turn the ball round the post. Four minutes later Wilmot was in action again to keep out an effort from Marc Leach.

The miss of the match came on 73 minutes when Wilmot ended up on the ground at the corner of the six yard box after palming away from substitute Zema Abbey and the loose ball fell to Nathan Fraser who blazed over an unguarded net from close range.

It was a real let off for AFC who continued to defend in numbers. Home appeals for a penalty for handball were waved away as AFC scrambled away another attack. The home pressure created another chance with seven minutes remaining when Fraser broke with only Wilmot to beat. Again the visiting keeper saved the day with a fine block.

Just before stoppage time the hosts appealed for a penalty when Reynolds went down, but he was yellow carded for diving.

It began to look as if AFC’s stout defending would protect the lead but three minutes into stoppage time Arlesey were awarded a free kick 20 yards out in the centre of the goal after a foul by Darg. Up stepped free kick specialist Coulson who drove a low shot under the jumping defensive wall to beat the diving Wilmot and earn his side a share of the spoils.

It was hard luck on a spirited AFC performance but in truth a draw was a fair result.

Pat Arbon