A solitary goal from Craig Avery was enough to help AFC
Res/U21’s to a 1-0 win over local rivals Cornard United, in the Thurlow Nunn
First Division.
Danny Laws handed Danny Bloomfield a debut on his return to
the club, while a number of Under 18s players were also named in the AFC team.
Callum Minns produced the opening effort of the match, as
his early shot from a corner was easily caught by Cornard goalkeeper Colin
Athey.
In the fifth minute, Jordan Brazitis curved an AFC free-kick
over the crossbar.
The Yellows had another free-kick, moments after, as Ollie
Rumsey crossed the ball towards Mark Ray, who saw his shot deflected away by
James Beckett for a corner. The corner was crossed in by Jordan Brazitis, but
the ball was easily claimed by ‘Ards’ goalkeeper Athey.
In the eighth minute, Mark Ray had a shot caught low by
Athey.
The Yellows had another corner after 9 minutes, as Ollie
Rumsey’s cross was deflected away for a
corner. Jordan Brazitis sent the ball
into the box, which was kicked away. The resulting corner was again crossed in
by Brazitis, and was punched away by Athey for a third consecutive corner. This
time, the ball was crossed in, and was headed away by Nathan Finan. The loose
ball eventually was claimed by the goalkeeper.
Danny Bloomfield made a mark in the 13th minute,
and he saw his first shot of the match saved by Cornard’s Athey.
AFC won their sixth corner of the match in the 17th
minute, with Jordan’s cross into the box punched away by the goalkeeper for a
seventh corner. This time, the ball was cut short to Alfie Carroll, who had an
effort go wide of goal.
Cornard, in a red and black strip, produced their first
attack in the 19th minute, as Dan Sakal sent the ball to Peter
Whitwell, who passed the ball to Peter Finan, who finally delivered the ball to
Nathan Finan, who had an shot collected by AFC shot-stopper Curtis Childs.
Danny Bloomfield set up Ross Brazitis for a shot, but the
youngster curved his effort over the crossbar.
Cornard produced another attack, as Whitwell and Nathan
Finan exchanged passes around the corner flag, but Finan sent the ball out of
play for a goal kick, following good defending from Ollie Rumsey.
Ross Brazitis had another shot, on-target in the 25th
minute, but Colin Athey easily held the
ball, to deny the AFC midfielder.
Cornard won a free-kick before the half-hour mark; Matt
Knight crossed the ball into the box, but David Downing headed the ball over
the goal.
After 35 minutes, the hosts took the lead as Craig Avery was fed the ball from outside
the box, and Avery was on hand to slot the ball past Athey.
With half-time looming, the hosts were eager to extend their
lead, and Jordan Brazitis sent Mark Ray into the box, but Ray’s shot was easily
caught by Cornard’s shot-stopped.
AFC had an excellent chance to go 2-0 up, as Craig Avery
delivered a long ball towards Mark Ray, who excellently headed down into the
path of Danny Bloomfield, who was unable to control the ball, and the ball was
cleared by Cornard.
HALF-TIME: AFC
Sudbury Res/U21s 1 Cornard United 0
The home side were forced into the first substitution after
five minutes of the second period – as Callum Minns picked up an injury. Minns
came off, alongside Ollie Rumsey, and the pair were replaced by Ben Judge and
Richard Abbott.
Cornard looked more likely to score in the second half, but
Matt Knight could only guide his strike wide of the AFC goal. Moments after,
Ezra Drann had a header from a corner go wide of the AFC goal.
In the 68th minute, Jamie Gregory fired an effort
over the bar, for the visitors.
With twenty minutes to play, Cornard looked to equalise:
Sakal sent the ball towards Ezra Drann, with a high ball sent towards James
Beckett, but the Cornard defender was unable to control the ball, which Alfie
Carroll headed towards home keeper Curtis Childs.
AFC also produced a series of attacks: Mark Ray had an
effort, on-target, deflected away by Jamie Gregory. The corner was crossed in
(by Jordan Brazitis), and was almost turned in by Peter Finan, but the ball was
eventually scrambled away for a throw in. Richard Abbott threw the ball goal-bounds,
but Peter Finan cleared the ball away.
The Yellows survived a scare, as a shot from Cornard
substitute Barney Giles was spilled by Childs, but the young goalkeeper
eventually cleared the ball.
AFC had a final chance near the end of the match as Mark Ray
saw his shot from a corner defected away for a second consecutive corner; the
resulting corner was easily headed away by Downing.
AFC SUDBURY RES/U21s:
Curtis Childs, Alfie Carroll, Ollie Rumsey (Ben Judge 51’), Connor
Field, Craig Avery, Callum Minns (Richard Abbott 51’), Ross Brazitis, Jack
Pidgeon, Mark Ray, Danny Bloomfield, Jordan Brazitis. All subs used
CORNARD UNITED: Colin
Athey, Shaun Melarkey, James Beckett, Matt Knight, Jamie Gregory, Dave Downing,
Nathan Finan (Barney Giles 65’), Peter Finan, Peter Whitwell (Joe Paton 76’),
Dan Sakal, Ezra Drann. Unused Sub: Billy Skinner
Attendance: 62
MOTM: Mark Ray
Thurlow Nunn First Division round-up:
Promotion chasing Saffron Walden recorded another huge division attendance, as 224 watched the Bloods draw 1-1 with Woodbridge. Great Yarmouth, who are Sudbury's opponents in the Knock-Out Cup final, drew 1-1 with Long Melford - both sides pushing for a play-off position. Halstead were defeat 0-2 by Swaffham Town, to help with Swaffham's promotion chances. Braintree recorded the weekend's largest win, as they beat Leiston 1-4. March Town beat Dereham 2-1 at the GER. The same result occurred at Greens Meadow, as Stowmarket and Haverhill Borough drew 1-1. Sudbury narrowly beat neighbours Cornard 1-0 at the Wardale-Williams Stadium. The match involving Downham and Needham was postponed, while no news was received on Team Bury v Debenham LC.