AFC Sudbury Reserves 3 Reserves 1

In contrast to last week the game kicked off under clear skies but with high humidity. This combined with the unfamiliar all weather surface meant it was always going to be a difficult afternoon. It is credit to the new management team of Paul and Stuart that despite absences due to unavailability, suspension and 1st team call up we were able to travel with three substitutes.

With the game only ten minutes old Ryan Sharman set up an excellent chance for Joe Berry. His determined run down the right ended with a pull back to Joe on the edge of the six yard box. His connection was good but accuracy not so as his shot sailed high over the cross bar, even clearing the netting behind the goal. The same player did get the ball into the net five minutes later when a Jac Garrard free kick from the left eventually found its way to him. The referee initially awarded a goal but after consultation with his assistant reversed his decision. Presumably for offside. The remaining thirty minutes of the half were largely uneventful with neither side able to create any clear cut scoring opportunities. For our part we had a couple of shots from outside the box, both ending up safely in the goalkeeper’s hands. In our goal Harry Lay-Fulcher didn’t even have that to do.

The game changed within minutes of the start of the second half. A poor HarryLay-Fulcher clearance fell at the feet of an opponent who returned the ball into an unguarded net. For the next twenty minutes we were totally overrun. Seemingly unable to keep the ball we conceded two further goals, the first of which was slightly fortunate with the ball rebounding to one of our hosts. The second was an almost identical re-run of the chance we had in the opening minutes but obviously with a different result. During this period Deivydas Andriuskevicius replaced Joe Berry. A double substitution following the third goal saw Matt Oliver replace Ryan Sharman and George Steward come on for Nicky Shopov. The changes seemed to have the desired effect as we came more into the game and with ten minutes remaining we reduced the arrears. A determined, tussling run down the left wing saw Deivydas Andriuskevicius score with a stooping header from Louis Bloom’s cross. A climatic finish was denied with minutes to go when our scorer saw his shot from a Toby Groom right flank cross just clear the bar with the goalkeeper well beaten.

FT - AFC Sudbury Reserves 3 Leiston Reserves 1