AFC Sudbury Reserves reached the final of the Thurlow Nunn First Division KO Cup for the first time, after they beat Haverhill Borough 3-1 in the semi-finals.
Danny Laws named a strong AFC side, which included Scott Kemp, Stephano and Gianfranco Mallardo, Kyran Clements and Mark Ray, who all played a part in Saturday’s first team match. Under 18’s players Connor Field and Jordan Kiwomya were both named in the team.
Haverhill Borough, in a dark blue strip, produced an early attack after four minutes, as Taylor fed the ball towards the goal, but Stephano Mallardo was on hand to clear away the ball.
The visitors then set up another attack, as Martin Westcott set up Borough skipper Ryan Weaver, who saw his cross deflected out for a corner by Joe Chester. The corner was cleared by the hosts.
Moments later (5’), the visitors had another chance to score, as Luke Latham sent the ball towards Weaver, who fired straight at AFC shot-stopped Louis Johnson.
Harry O’Connor had a shot in the sixth minute also blocked by Johnson. The resulting corner was cleared by the AFC defence, and the hosts retrieved the loose ball, and Scott Kemp was released into the box: the striker bundled home the ball at the second attempt, to put the hosts ahead, in the seventh minute.
The hosts look to increase their lead, and the hosts earned a corner from a progressive attack. Johnny Kerridge saw his header scrambled away by visiting keeper Charlie Turner, with the loose ball bundled away by Haverhill, in the tenth minute.
Boro’ captain Weaver had a curling effort caught by Johnson in the 19th minute, while Kemp saw his shot from a free-kick curl wide of the post, two minutes after.
The Yellows could have doubled their lead in the 24th minute, as Tom Wingfield had a shot at a tight angle, but the effort was cleared.
In the 25th minute, Haverhill player-manager Westcott had a cross into the AFC box headed away by Gianfranco Mallardo.
In the 37th minute, Johnny Kerridge was booked, after bringing down Lee Hurkett. The resulting free-kick was taken just outside the area, by Hurkett, and headed away by Joe Chester, with a second effort headed away by AFC’s Connor Field.
However, the opening half ended with an unexpected incident, in the 43rd minute. An AFC corner was crossed into the box from the far side, with Stephano Mallardo appearing to be pulled down by Borough goalkeeper Charlie Turner. Both Mallardo and Turner were immediately dismissed by the referee.
Gavin Taylor went in goal for Borough. Ryan Geoghegan went off for Kieran O’Neill, for Haverhill’s first sub in the 44th minute.
HALF-TIME: AFC Sudbury Res/U21s 1 Haverhill Borough 0
The AFC side went down to nine men after two minutes of the second period, as Johnny Kerridge received a second yellow card for a foul.
In the 57th minute, Sudbury doubled their lead, as a mistake by Haverhill’s stand-in goalkeeper Gavin Taylor, allowed Scott Kemp to retrieve the loose ball, and feed Mark Ray, who was able to slot past Taylor in a one-on-one situation.
Haverhill refused to give up, and Luke Latham made a run down the wing, and Franco Mallardo slid in on the Haverhill midfielder, to send the ball out for a corner. The resulting corner was headed away.
The Yellows could have been 3-0 up as James Axcell attempted to run around goalkeeper Taylor, who appeared to foul Axcell. The referee awarded a goal-kick.
Kyran Clements was booked, after reacting at a challenge, to see the visitors earn a free-kick in the 67th minute. The free-kick was headed away by Kemp, but player-manager Martin Westcott claimed the loose ball and fired home from close range, to pull a goal back for the visitors (2-1).
Four minutes later (71’), a free-kick met Scott Kemp, who got his second goal of the evening, to extend Sudbury’s lead, with a cool finish from a free-kick.
The hosts made their first change of the night, as Jordan Brazitis replaced James Axcell, after 73 minutes.
Sudbury had a couple more chances to increase Sudbury’s lead, with Mark Ray and Connor Field both having efforts that curved wide.
Borough made a second change in the 78th minute, as Danny Shipton replaced Harry Halls. Kieran O’Neill was booked for a challenge on Tom Wingfield, with ten minutes to play.
AFC made two more changes at the end of the half: Mark Ray made way for Ross Brazitis (83’), and Tom Wingfield went off for Jordan Kiwomya (86’).
There was a controversial decision in injury time: AFC’s Ross Brazitis and Scott Kemp were released goal-bound, but Ash Drew appeared to foul Kemp – the referee stopped play and awarded the hosts a free-kick, which was cleared.
However, the hosts held on for the win, which put them through to the final of the First Division Knock-Out Cup. AFC will face Great Yarmouth Town in the final, which will be played at a neutral venue, on Friday 1st May.
AFC SUDBURY RES/U21s: Louis Johnston, Joe Chester, Gianfranco Mallardo, Connor Field, Kyran Clements (yellow card 67’), Stephano Mallardo (sent off 42’), Scott Kemp (capt), Tom Wingfield (Jordan Kiwomya 86’), Mark Ray (Ross Brazitis 83’), Johnny Kerridge (yellow card 37’, red card 47’), James Axcell (Jordan Brazitis 73’). Unused Subs: Jack Pidgeon, Alfie Carroll.
HAVERHILL BOROUGH: Charlie Turner (sent off 42’), Ash Drew, Lee Hurkett, Ryan Geoghegan (O’Neill 42’), Gavin Taylor , Harry O'Connor, Ryan Weaver (c), Tom Milne, Martin Westcott (player-manager), Luke Latham, Harry Halls (Danny Shipton 78’). Unused Subs: Leon Bailey, Aaron Forshaw.
Danny Laws named a strong AFC side, which included Scott Kemp, Stephano and Gianfranco Mallardo, Kyran Clements and Mark Ray, who all played a part in Saturday’s first team match. Under 18’s players Connor Field and Jordan Kiwomya were both named in the team.
Haverhill Borough, in a dark blue strip, produced an early attack after four minutes, as Taylor fed the ball towards the goal, but Stephano Mallardo was on hand to clear away the ball.
The visitors then set up another attack, as Martin Westcott set up Borough skipper Ryan Weaver, who saw his cross deflected out for a corner by Joe Chester. The corner was cleared by the hosts.
Moments later (5’), the visitors had another chance to score, as Luke Latham sent the ball towards Weaver, who fired straight at AFC shot-stopped Louis Johnson.
Harry O’Connor had a shot in the sixth minute also blocked by Johnson. The resulting corner was cleared by the AFC defence, and the hosts retrieved the loose ball, and Scott Kemp was released into the box: the striker bundled home the ball at the second attempt, to put the hosts ahead, in the seventh minute.
The hosts look to increase their lead, and the hosts earned a corner from a progressive attack. Johnny Kerridge saw his header scrambled away by visiting keeper Charlie Turner, with the loose ball bundled away by Haverhill, in the tenth minute.
Boro’ captain Weaver had a curling effort caught by Johnson in the 19th minute, while Kemp saw his shot from a free-kick curl wide of the post, two minutes after.
The Yellows could have doubled their lead in the 24th minute, as Tom Wingfield had a shot at a tight angle, but the effort was cleared.
In the 25th minute, Haverhill player-manager Westcott had a cross into the AFC box headed away by Gianfranco Mallardo.
In the 37th minute, Johnny Kerridge was booked, after bringing down Lee Hurkett. The resulting free-kick was taken just outside the area, by Hurkett, and headed away by Joe Chester, with a second effort headed away by AFC’s Connor Field.
However, the opening half ended with an unexpected incident, in the 43rd minute. An AFC corner was crossed into the box from the far side, with Stephano Mallardo appearing to be pulled down by Borough goalkeeper Charlie Turner. Both Mallardo and Turner were immediately dismissed by the referee.
Gavin Taylor went in goal for Borough. Ryan Geoghegan went off for Kieran O’Neill, for Haverhill’s first sub in the 44th minute.
HALF-TIME: AFC Sudbury Res/U21s 1 Haverhill Borough 0
The AFC side went down to nine men after two minutes of the second period, as Johnny Kerridge received a second yellow card for a foul.
In the 57th minute, Sudbury doubled their lead, as a mistake by Haverhill’s stand-in goalkeeper Gavin Taylor, allowed Scott Kemp to retrieve the loose ball, and feed Mark Ray, who was able to slot past Taylor in a one-on-one situation.
Haverhill refused to give up, and Luke Latham made a run down the wing, and Franco Mallardo slid in on the Haverhill midfielder, to send the ball out for a corner. The resulting corner was headed away.
The Yellows could have been 3-0 up as James Axcell attempted to run around goalkeeper Taylor, who appeared to foul Axcell. The referee awarded a goal-kick.
Kyran Clements was booked, after reacting at a challenge, to see the visitors earn a free-kick in the 67th minute. The free-kick was headed away by Kemp, but player-manager Martin Westcott claimed the loose ball and fired home from close range, to pull a goal back for the visitors (2-1).
Four minutes later (71’), a free-kick met Scott Kemp, who got his second goal of the evening, to extend Sudbury’s lead, with a cool finish from a free-kick.
The hosts made their first change of the night, as Jordan Brazitis replaced James Axcell, after 73 minutes.
Sudbury had a couple more chances to increase Sudbury’s lead, with Mark Ray and Connor Field both having efforts that curved wide.
Borough made a second change in the 78th minute, as Danny Shipton replaced Harry Halls. Kieran O’Neill was booked for a challenge on Tom Wingfield, with ten minutes to play.
AFC made two more changes at the end of the half: Mark Ray made way for Ross Brazitis (83’), and Tom Wingfield went off for Jordan Kiwomya (86’).
There was a controversial decision in injury time: AFC’s Ross Brazitis and Scott Kemp were released goal-bound, but Ash Drew appeared to foul Kemp – the referee stopped play and awarded the hosts a free-kick, which was cleared.
However, the hosts held on for the win, which put them through to the final of the First Division Knock-Out Cup. AFC will face Great Yarmouth Town in the final, which will be played at a neutral venue, on Friday 1st May.
AFC SUDBURY RES/U21s: Louis Johnston, Joe Chester, Gianfranco Mallardo, Connor Field, Kyran Clements (yellow card 67’), Stephano Mallardo (sent off 42’), Scott Kemp (capt), Tom Wingfield (Jordan Kiwomya 86’), Mark Ray (Ross Brazitis 83’), Johnny Kerridge (yellow card 37’, red card 47’), James Axcell (Jordan Brazitis 73’). Unused Subs: Jack Pidgeon, Alfie Carroll.
HAVERHILL BOROUGH: Charlie Turner (sent off 42’), Ash Drew, Lee Hurkett, Ryan Geoghegan (O’Neill 42’), Gavin Taylor , Harry O'Connor, Ryan Weaver (c), Tom Milne, Martin Westcott (player-manager), Luke Latham, Harry Halls (Danny Shipton 78’). Unused Subs: Leon Bailey, Aaron Forshaw.