By Louis Byers
FANbase Football
James Axcell had the best effort of the match as AFC Sudbury Reserves played out an entertaining goalless draw with King’s Lynn Town Reserves, at the Wardale-Williams Stadium.
Danny Laws made two changes to the side that beat Woodbridge, with Tyler French and Ross Bailey coming in for Jack Newman and Stephano Mallardo.Sudbury started brightly, with experienced striker Danny Bloomfield chipping an effort over Luke Pearson’s goal, after three minutes, while Wayne Blackman saw his free-kick flagged offside.
Kieron Stannard smashed the crossbar with his effort in the seventh minute, after receiving the ball from Eion McQuaid.
Louis Johnson made a good save to deny Jack Frohawk, as Johnson parried the effort away. Moments after, Frohawk produced another good effort which was cleared away by Baughurst.
The visitors, in a turquoise and black strip, won a free-kick when Sam Mills fouled a King’s Lynn player – although calls were made for a penalty. Alex Clunan delivered the free-kick, but Kevin White was unable to pocket the ball home.
Sudbury almost took the lead in the 23rd minute, when Baughurst played a long ball through to Blackman, who saw his angled shot parried away by Pearson. The resulting corner was spilled by ‘keeper Luke Peason, with the ball falling to Clements who was unable to tap the ball home.
The Linnets had a good spell in the 27th minute, when Kieron Stannard played the ball down towards Frohawk, who sent the ball towards Tansley, who saw the ball roll out for a goal-kick, under pressure from Tyler French.
Alfie Carroll sent the ball down the wing towards Axcell, in the 37th minute, who saw the ball tapped away by the King’s Lynn defenders. The ball fell to Wayne Blackman who chipped the ball over the bar.
Eoin McQuaid struck an effort at Louis Johnson, with Sam Mills clearing the danger. The visitors won another free-kick – taken by McQuaid – but it was headed away by Ross Bailey.
Half-time: AFC Sudbury Res 0-0 King’s Lynn Town Res
McQuaid was unlucky not to put his side ahead, in the 53rd minute, as he collected the ball, from a poor piece of AFC defending. Although he placed his effort wide of Johnson’s goal.
Ross Bailey curled his effort in the top-right corner of the box, after a good cross from Bradley Beevis.
Town’s first substitute saw Kieron Stannard replaced by Danny Setchell, on 61 minutes.
Jack Frohawk fired an angled shot just wide of Johnson’s goal, after Alex Clunan collected the ball.
AFC’s only change saw Bradley Beevis replaced by Ryan McNicholas, in the 64th minute.
The visitors could have taken the lead in the 70th minute, as Frohawk outran the Sudbury midfield and crossed the ball towards Tansley, who tucked the ball into the back of the net, although the play was marked offside.
Ross Bailey played the ball towards Baughurst, who crossed the ball into the box, but the ball was headed away by Matt Bussons.
Town made a second substitute – Karla Tansley was replaced by Robert Palmer (74’).
The best chance of the match fell to AFC Sudbury’s James Axcell, who made a run down the far wing and struck from outside the box, past rushing-keeper Luke Pearson, but the ball rolled inches wide of goal.
Tom McLeish was booked after he brought down Sam Mills just outside the area. From the free-kick, Wayne Blackman crossed a low ball into the box, and it fell to Kings Lynn defender Nathan Daw, who tapped the ball straight at his own goalkeeper, with Luke Pearson calming collecting the ball.
Matthew Bussons was booked in the closing moments, after handling the ball. The resulting free-kick was blocked by the King’s Lynn wall.
A goalless draw was a fair reflection of the game, with both sides having good chances to win the match, late on.
Up Next:
AFC Sudbury Reserves travel to Stowmarket Town in the league next Saturday, while Kings Lynn Reserves travel to Wroxham, in the Norfolk Senior Cup.Teams:
AFC Sudbury Res: Louis Johnson, Sam Mills, Alfie Carroll, James Baughurst, Tyler French, Kyran Clements, Bradley Beevis (Ryan McNicholas, 64’), Wayne Blackman, Danny Bloomfield, Ross Bailey, James Axcell. Unused Subs: Toby Mitchell, Ollie Dunlop, Ollie Peters, Jack Pidgeon.King's Lynn Town Res: Luke Pearson, Matthew Bussons, Nathan Daw, Simon Bird, Tom McLeish, Kevin White, Alex Clunan (Danny Setchell, 63’), Karl Tansley (Robert Palmer, 75’), Jack Frohawk, Eoin McQuaid. Unused Subs: Jacob White, Jack Noble.
Att: 67
Ref: James Beal