AFC Sudbury Reserves began the defence of the First Division Knock-Out Cup, as they beat Leiston Reserves 4-2, despite a late comeback by the visitors.
The Yellows wore their brand new home kit, which has been sponsored by Great Waldingfield Garages, while visitors Leiston, sported an all-red strip.AFC started the match brightly, with Charlie Gilbert’s early cross being knocked away by Leiston, after two minutes.
Gilbert played a one-two with Ryan McNicholas, who crossed the ball in towards Oliver Dunlop, who saw his effort caught by visiting keeper Rob Goodwin, in the third minute.
At the other end, Jack Baker fired an effort over the bar, in Leiston’s first chance of the match.
Wayne Blackman picked out the ball in midfield, and sent the ball to left-back Alfie Carroll, who made a run into the box, tapping the ball to Danny Bloomfield, who found Ollie Dunlop in the box who had an effort deflect wide for a corner.
The corner, in the fifth minute, was crossed into the box by Blackman, with Rob Goodwin punching the ball away for the visitors.
In the eleventh minute, the hosts earned themselves a penalty, as Alfie Carroll was pushed down in the box by Ash Canham. The Leiston defender was booked, as a result of his actions
Charlie Gilbert sent Blues goalkeeper Goodwin the wrong way, as he calmly slotted home in the bottom left-hand corner, to put Sudbury ahead, in the 12th minute.
Leiston looked to get back into the game, and earned a free-kick outside the box in the 15th minute. Kevin Ingliss sent the ball towards Baker, who headed straight at AFC goalkeeper Louis Johnson.
AFC survived a scare in the 18th minute, as Canham set up Darren Mills fired a shot at Louis Johnson, with Toby Mitchell clearing the ball off the line.
Straight at the other end, Charlie Gilbert saw an effort blocked by Goodwin for an AFC corner, which was crossed in, by Blackman, towards Tyler French, who saw his header saved by Goodwin.
In the 20th minute, Darren Mills made a run for the visitors, and crossed the ball to Jack Baker, who sent the ball backwards to Aaron Thurlow, who smacked the ball wide of Johnson’s goal.
Wayne Blackman had a low solo effort in the 28th minute, which he curled wide of Goodwin’s goal.
The visitors made an opening substitution in the 38th minute, as Ed Spurgeon was replaced by Matthew Oliver.
Tyler French was booked, after he fouled Jack Baker, in the 42nd minute after a Leiston attack. The resulting corner was tipped over the bar by Louis Johnson.
Half-Time: AFC Sudbury Res 1-0 Leiston Res
The Yellows got play back underway, and Charlie Gilbert looked to get a second goal, but he could only direct his effort over the crossbar, moments into the second half.
In the 49th minute, Ash Canham headed a high ball, in the box, towards goal, under pressure from Alfie Carroll, but the Leiston player saw his effort caught by AFC’s shot-stopper Johnson. Carroll resumed play, after picking up a minor knock.
Danny Bloomfield played the ball to Ollie Dunlop, who had an effort blocked by Ingliss, who played the ball back to goalkeeper Goodwin, who cleared the danger.
AFC’s Toby Mitchell headed an effort away from Kris Howlett, who picked up a minor knock, following Matthew Oliver’s build up ball, in the 52nd minute.
The visitors thought they scored in the 54th minute, as Ingliss sent the ball to Aaron Thurlow, who narrowly smashed the ball into the side-netting. Howlett had an effort blocked, from Canham’s cross, moments after.
In the 60th minute, Leiston goalkeeper Rob Goodwin did well to keep the Blues in the match, as he blocked two efforts from experienced AFC striker Danny Bloomfield.
AFC doubled their lead in the 62nd minute, as Ryan McNicholas outpaced several Leiston defenders, and slotted home past Goodwin, in a one-on-one situation.
Wayne Blackman was booked in the 65th minute for the home side, before Darren Mills saw a header caught by Louis Johnson, from Toby Kerslake’s corner.
Leiston’s second alteration of the match saw Kris Howlett replaced by Ryan Sharman (71’)
Alfie Carroll had an effort curve wide of goal in the 76th minute.
Leiston staged a late comeback, which began in the 81st minute. Jack Baker was pulled down in the box, by Toby Mitchell, to see the referee award a penalty. Kevin Ingliss slotted home past Johnson, to make it 2-1.
Darren Mills made it 2-2, two minutes after, as he fired the ball past Johnson, to make it a nervy finish for the hosts.
Sudbury were back in front in the 87th minute, when Charlie Gilbert earned his second of the match, against the run of play, to make it 3-2.
An 89th minute substitute for the Yellows saw Joe Wright replaced by Sam Mills.
Kevin Ingliss kept the pressure on Sudbury, and saw a free-kick saved by Johnson, in the first minute of injury time.
However, the Yellows confirmed their place in the next round, as Ryan McNicholas struck his second goal of the match, after a good build-up, to make it 4-2 in the fifth minute of injury time.
The Yellows will travel to Wivenhoe Town, in the first round of the KO Cup, in the week commencing November 11th. Full-time: AFC Sudbury Res 4-2 Leiston Res
AFC Sudbury Res: Louis Johnson, Toby Mitchell, Alfie Carroll, Joe Wright (Sam Mills 89’), Tyler French, Craig Avery (c), Ollie Dunlop (Joe Coppins 90+2’), Wayne Blackman, Charlie Gilbert, Danny Bloomfield, Ryan McNicholas. Unused Subs: Ben Judge, Ollie Peters, Bradley Beevis.
Leiston Res: Rob Goodwin, Ash Canham, Ed Spurgeon (Matthew Oliver 38’), Kevin Ingliss, Toby Kerslake, Josh Sprague, Kris Howlett (Ryan Sharman 71’), Kelsey Trotter (c), Darren Mills, Aaron Thurlow, Jack Baker. Unused Subs: Zehn Young, Chris Hammond, Jack Debenham.
Referee: James Beal
Attendance: 50
MOTM: Ryan McNicholas (AFC Sudbury)