- AFC record second successive victory
- Brace for Wayne Blackman - excellent second goal
- Single goals from Jordan Brazitis and Tom Wingfield
- Halstead score consolation penalty from Cunliffe.
- Thurlow Nunn First Division match at the Wardale Williams Stadium
Wayne Blackman scored a brace, as AFC Sudbury Reserves beat Halstead Town 4-1, at the Wardale-Williams Stadium, on Easter Monday.
Sudbury’s opening attack of the match saw Jordan Brazitis’s throw-in meet Mark Ray, who crossed the ball towards Wayne Blackman, but the ball was sent out of play by Halstead for a throw-in. Josh Kerridge threw the ball into play towards Harry Seal, who had a shot blocked. The resulting corner saw Brazitis send the ball into the box, but Halstead’s Nick Miller headed the ball away.
Halstead’s first noteworthy chance of the match came in the eighth minute, when Tom Cook curled a free-kick into the box, but Louis Johnson was on hand for the hosts to collect the ball.
The Humbugs won a corner in the 12th minute – a shot from former AFC player Ryan Swallow was blocked by the hosts.
AFC also won a free-kick, a few moments later, as Danny Bloomfield sent a ball to Alfie Carroll, who was fouled by Jimmy Laird. The free-kick was taken short by Jordan Brazitis, to Harry Seal, who took a shot which was saved by visiting goalkeeper Matt Walker.
In the 16th minute, Mark Ray set up Jordan Brazitis, who had an effort deflected away by Jamie Chesney. The loose ball was picked up by Danny Bloomfield, who blazed an effort over the crossbar. A few minutes later – Brazitis had another effort from outside the box, which curved just over the bar.
Jamie Chesney headed just wide of Louis Johnson’s goal, in the 22nd minute, from Tom Cook’s corner.
Mark Ray sent a long ball up to Joe Chester, who made a run down the far wing and crossed the ball into the box, which was headed away by Town.
The visitors still had their share of efforts – Jimmy Laird sent the ball into the box, from a throw in, which was punched away by Louis Johnson. The loose ball fell to Laird who again crossed the ball into the box, which was headed away by Josh Kerridge, but he was pulled down by Laird for an AFC goal-kick.
The Res/U21s took the lead in the 43rd minute, as Josh Kerridge delivered the ball down the close wing, towards Mark Ray, who crossed the ball into the path of Wayne Blackman, who retrieved the ball, and fired the ball in off the post.
It was a good opening half from the hosts, who deservedly took the lead at the end of the half.
(Four) Goals Galore
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This
is the first time that the AFC Reserves scored at least four goals in a match this season
since they thrashed Needham Market Reserves 8-0 back in December last
year.
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Halstead came out for the second half, looking more dominant, and could have equalised as the ball was sent into the path of Ryan Swallow, but Louis Johnson was quick off the mark to win the ball himself.
AFC doubled their lead a minute later, as Tom Wingfield taps home into an empty goal from Joe Chester’s high cross, which goalkeeper Matt Walker failed to catch.
The Humbugs, in a changed red and white strip, still continued to press forward, and Mark Dallinger tapped an effort wide from Jonah Gosling’s cross. Skipper Lewis Cunliffe had a header from a throw-in go wide of goal, in the 58th minute.
AFC looked to have confirmed the win in the 59th minute, as Wingfield sent the ball towards Mark Ray, who then parried the ball towards Jordan Brazitis, who fired the ball home from close range, to send the hosts into a three-goal lead.
Sudbury then survived a scare with half-an-hour to play, as Mark Dallanger looked to have put Jonah Gosling into a one-on-one position with Louis Johnson, but the play was ruled out by the linesman.
The Yellows then could have been 4-0 up in the 65th minute, but Tom Wingfield saw his effort curve wide of the empty goal.
Once again, the Yellows had a great chance to extend their lead: Joe Chester set-up Jordan Brazitis, but he had an effort cleared off the line by Dave Morgan. Jack Pidgeon had an effort fly wide of the goal in the 72nd minute.
Halstead scored a consolation goal in the 78th minute, as skipper Lewis Cunliffe converted a penalty, shooting in the bottom right hand corner of the net.
Mark Dallinger continued to prove a threat towards AFC, as he had an effort blocked in the final ten minutes.
However, Wayne Blackman sealed the victory, as he scored a fantastic long-range effort in the 90th minute.
LINE-UPS, BOOKINGS AND SUBSTITUTIONS
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AFC Sudbury Reserves
Louis Johnson, Joe Chester Alfie Carroll Josh Kerridge (Ross Brazitis 76’) Kyran Clements Harry Seal Jordan Brazitis Danny Bloomfield (Jack Pidgeon 23’) Mark Ray Wayne Blackman Tom Wingfield (Craig Avery 68’). Unused Sub: Connor Field |
Halstead Town FC
Matt Walker John-Ashley Baptiste Jimmy Laird Dave Morgan Lewis Cunliffe Brad Keefe (Alex Gunn 68’) Ryan Swallow (John Root 76’) Jamie Chesney (Mark Dallinger 51’) Jonah Gosling Nick Miller Tom Cook. Unused Subs: Lee Green, Charlie Davis |
Ref: Andrea Timpani
MOTM: Wayne Blackman
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