REPORT: AFC Sudbury Res 1-6 Swaffham Town

AFC Sudbury Reserves/Under-21s’ fell to a third straight defeat on Saturday as they were thrashed 6-1 by promotion chasing Swaffham Town.

The Yellows fell behind after 50 seconds, as Redhead’s cross to Richard Cornwall was easily headed in past goalkeeper Dan Joyce, with Blackwell unable to clear the ball off the line. Cornwall has a second effort, moments after, was headed over the bar.

Mark Allibone got on the end of a Swaffham Town free-kick to poke the ball home past Joyce in the sixth minute.

Three minutes later, Allibone claimed a second goal, to put the Pedlars three-nil up.

AFC’s first promising effort of the half came in the thirteenth minute after Blackwell was pulled down. The resulting free-kick was caught by visiting keeper Lee Brooks.

Liam Reed’s 37th minute strike was blocked by Joyce, while another shot from Blackwell was cleared.

The visitors immediately got back where they left off as Alex Vincent easily fired past AFC keeper Joyce, to send them 4-0 up.

And Swaffham were 5-0 up after 55 minutes as Richard Cornwall got his second of the match, to pile more misery on the home side.

In the 59th minute, Redhead and Cornwall were replaced by Joe Jackson and Rory Harper for Swaffham’s alterations while Dan George came on for Ben Golding in the 64th minute.

Following the substitution for the home side, a powerful attack from Jake Plattern and Rory Harper was stopped by Scott Kemp, who slid in on Plattern near the corner flag to send the ball out for a goal kick.

In the 71st minute, substitute Dan George played the ball to Andy Fisher who sent the ball into the box, only to be cleared away.

A minute later, the AFC goalkeeper Dan Joyce made an excellent save to decline the visitors as Rory Harper’s shot sent the goalkeeper diving and punching the ball away.

Nine minutes later (81’), the Yellows received a controversial penalty as the referee saw a Pedlar player handle the ball in the box during an AFC attack. Blackwell stepped up and converted the penalty, to earn the hosts a consolation goal.

But Swaffham’s five-goal advantage was restored in the 85th minute as Matthew Castellan scored a long range effort, to confirm the victory for the visitors, making it 6-1.

The final spell of attack saw Blackwell’s effort one-on-one with keeper Brooks easily blocked with Fisher’s rebound effort cleared before Blackwell’s final effort from the right hand wing finally claimed by Brooks.

Jackson had a header blocked in injury time, but the Yellows were unable to find another goal.

AFC Team: Dan Joyce, Luke McGhee, Scott Barnes, Dan Statham, Billy Cursons, Jake Jackson, Jordan Blackwell, Jordan Brazitis, Ben Golding, Andy Fisher, Scott Kemp. Subs: Sam Last, Dan George (on for Golding, 64), Evan Gartand

Swaffham Team: Lee Brooks, Liam Reed, Jack Plattern, Dean Miller, Matt Castellan, Lewis Thompson, Jack Redhead, Michael Thompson, Mark Allibone, Alex Vincent, Richard Cornwall. Subs: Ashley St-John, Lewis Hemeter, Rory Harper (on for Cornwall, 59), Toby Hilliard, Joe Jackson (on for Redhead, 59)

MOTM: Jordan Blackwell / Attendance: 49