- Sudbury fall to heaviest defeat of league season
- Melford remain second, despite heavy victory
- Former AFC player Steve Adams heads home twice, from corners
- Harry Seal receives second yellow card after final whistle
- Jamie Griffiths converts twice from penalty spot
AFC Sudbury Reserves fell to their heaviest defeat of the season, as they were thrashed 7-0 by promotion chasers Long Melford, in the Thurlow Nunn First Division, in front of their biggest home crowd of the season of 100.
Melford got the match underway, and were immediately a threat to AFC, as Sean Barlett delivered the ball to Ross Waugh, who had a shot deflected away by Craig Avery. The resulting corner was curved into the box by Jamie Griffiths, and was easily held by home goalkeeper Louis Johnson.
In the fourth minute, former AFC player Steve Adams headed the ball down towards Barlett, who turned around Johnny Kerridge and curved his shot over the crossbar. Moments later, Long Melford had a second corner, which was easily claimed by Johnson.
AFC ‘s first attack of the match came in the sixth minute, when skipper Mark Ray sent the ball to Jordan Brazitis, who sent a long ball towards Danny Bloomfield, but visiting keeper Sam Mansfield easily collected the ball.
The Villagers took the lead after eight minutes, when Ashley Sloots made a run into the box and fired the ball past AFC keeper Johnson in a one-on-one situation.
Melford, in their black and white strip, could have doubled their lead, five minutes later, but Barlett’s shot was easily claimed by Johnson.
After 15 minutes, the ball was played into the box towards Melford’s Jamie Griffiths, but AFC cleared the ball for a corner. Griffiths curved the ball into the box towards ex-AFC player Steve Adams, who perfectly headed the ball home from close range, to put Melford 2-0 up.
Two minutes later, Jamie Griffiths had a shot which deflected off an AFC player, but Louis Johnson was on hand to collect the ball.
With 25 minutes played, the visitors found themselves 3-0 up, as Melford won a penalty, following a foul in the box. Jamie Griffiths converted the spot-kick, as he fired the ball in the bottom left corner.
Anthony Waugh fired a high long shot wide in the 34th minute.
AFC defender Alfie Carroll planted a long ball into the box towards Mark Ray, but Sam Mansfield easily claimed the ball.
In the 38th minute, Carroll delivered another long ball towards Jordan Brazitis down the right wing, but Melford’s Ashley Sloots allowed the ball to roll out of play.
Melford were forced into a substitution, prior to half time (41’), as Sean Barlett picked up a hamstring injury, and was replaced by Jack Durey.
Alfie Carroll then sent the ball toward’s the head of Tom Wingfield’s but a Melford player rose above Wingfield and headed the ball away.
In the 44th minute, Steve Adams extended Melford’s lead, as headed home from a corner to put Jules Mumford’s side 4-0 up.
Half-time: AFC Res/U21s 0 Long Melford 4 - AFC made their first change at half-time, as Terrance Kangandu replaced Jordan Brazitis.
Melford continued where they left off, as Steve Adams – who looked to get a hat-trick – had an effort blocked by Alfie Carroll.
In the 56th minute, Nathan Rowe looked to get on the score sheet as he had an effort at a tight angle blocked by Carroll. The resulting corner was crossed into the box towards Steve Adams, who saw his shot blocked by Gianfranco Mallardo, before a rebound effort was headed away by Harry Seal.
Melford continued to dominate the fixture, and Ross Waugh’s ball to Nathan Rowe was blocked by Avery, and the ball fell into the path of Ross Waugh, who crossed the ball into the box, only to see Adams’ strike curve wide of the goal.
Joe Chester had an effort for the home side blocked by Dan Swain.
AFC had a great chance to score in the 64th minute, as Swain fouled Joe Chester in the box. The free-kick was taken by Chester, and Jamie Griffiths headed the ball away for a corner. The corner, crossed in by Gianfranco Mallardo, flew over all the players in the box, and was cleared by Melford.
Melford’s second alteration came in the 67th minute, as Dan Statham (ex-AFC) replaced Dan Swain.
In the 68th minute, Harry Seal handled the ball inside of the box, leaving the referee no choice but to award a penalty and book the AFC man. Jamie Griffiths stepped up and converted his second penalty of the match.
In the 70th minute, Tom Wingfield made way for Connor Fields,for AFC’s second change.
Two minutes after, Melford were 6-0 up, as Steve Adams delivered the ball into the box, with Johnson running out to collect the ball, but fell down under pressure from a Melford player, and the ball landed in the back of the net (own goal).
Alfie Carroll attempted to get AFC back into the match, as he had an effort deflected off Melford’s Steve Chisholm, but Villagers shot-stopper Sam Mansfield collected the loose ball.
AFC’s final change resulted in Wayne Blackman making his home debut, and replacing Craig Avery.
Melford completed the rout in the 80th minute, as Nathan Rowe’s free-kick was saved well by Louis Johnson, and the ball fell to Jamie Clark, who slotted home.
In the closing five minutes, AFC defended well to deny Melford on several occasions, as Mark Ray and Alfie Carroll were forced to head the ball away, making goal-line clearances.
After the final whistle, Harry Seal was shown a second yellow card for unsporting behaviour, which lead to the player seeing a red card. Seal apologised for his actions after the match.
Full-time: AFC Res/U21s 0 Long Melford 7
AFC SUDBURY RES/U21s: Louis Johnson, Alfie Carroll, Craig Avery (Wayne Blackman 78’), Joe Chester, Harry Seal (sent off 90’) Johnny Kerridge, Jordan Brazitis (Terrance Kangandu 46’), Tom Wingfield (Connor Field 70’), Mark Ray, Danny Bloomfield, Gianfranco Mallardo. Unused Subs: Ross Brazitis, Jack Pidgeon.
LONG MELFORD: Sam Mansfield, Steve Chisholm, Ashley Sloots, Jamie Clark, Steve Adams, Anthony Waugh, Ross Waugh, Dan Swain (Dan Statham), Sean Barlett (Jack Durey), Jamie Griffiths (Sam Bayliss), Nathan Rowe. Unused Subs: Jake Jackson, Darren Moyes.
Att: 100
Ref: Mr C Horsman
Ref: Mr C Horsman
AFC MOTM: Alfie Carroll
Melford MOTM: Steve Adams
@SteveEcho @FANbaseBlog i apologise to everyone who came to watch today, my antics after the game were not acceptable! Onwards and upwards.
— Haaarry. (@harryseal6) March 28, 2015
@FANbaseBlog @Longmelfordfc Walden winning,yamouth goaless but well on top,any news on Swaffham#top3isclose
— richard daniels (@lugsy10) March 28, 2015