A great match at the Wardale-Williams Stadium saw AFC
Sudbury Res lost 3-2 to Braintree Town Res, in an unusual lunchtime kick-off.
Braintree, playing in a blue-and-white change strip, took
the lead in the third minute as Luke
Mallett struck a low effort home past Louis Johnson.
The home side looked to get back into the match, and Ollie
Dunlop fired an excellent effort which was well claimed by Iron goalkeeper
David Leader.
Toby Mitchell saw an effort from a corner saved by
goalkeeper David Leader, while Mitchell’s next effort from a corner was blocked
by Cameron Marks.
Sudbury’s hard effort paid off in the 16th
minute, as Charlie Gilbert unleashed
a magnificent strike which looped over David Leader into the top left corner,
to draw the home side level.
Danny Laws made an early change with Ben Judge being
replaced by Alfie Carroll.
However, the home side fell behind again, as Cameron Marks powered his way into the
box, and slotted home past Johnson, to put Braintree 2-1 up, after 34 minutes.
Wayne Blackman saw a header clip just wide of goal from an
AFC corner, while Gilbert had a low effort collected by Leader.
Sam Mills produced an excellent cross, which looped
goal-bound, but flew just wide of the goal, in the final piece of action of the
half.
Half-time: AFC Sudbury Res 1-2 Braintree Town Res
Braintree’s Harry Watkins provided the first effort of the
half, as he launched the ball way over the bar, just outside the box.
Charlie Gilbert continued to threaten the home side,
although his free-kick was headed away by Braintree’s Lewis Soraf.
AFC drew level on 51 minutes, as Ryan McNicholas received the ball outside the box, and fired the
ball past Leader in the bottom left corner, after good work from Joe Wright and
Charlie Gilbert in the build-up.
Sudbury continued to produce good stints of play, with the
home side winning another free-kick. Gilbert made a good delivery towards Blackman
who just chopped the ball wide
Braintree made a double-substitution on 62 minutes, as Jacob
Gyebi and Jack Tyrer were replaced by Kofi Gyebi and Palvy Manduakila). Harry
Watkins was cautioned for the Iron.
A great strike from Braintree’s Palvy Manduakila was blocked
well by AFC.
On 69’ Will Young was replaced by Flynn Tarman, for the
Iron.
A great free-kick by Charlie Gilbert saw him cross the ball
into the box, but Wayne Blackman was unable to tap the ball into the back of
the net.
The Iron regained the lead on 74 minutes; Manduakila played
the ball to Luke Mallett, who played a one-two with Harry Watkins, who fired the ball home past Johnson.
Substitute Alfie Carroll and Joe Wright were replaced by
Ross Henry and Thomas Dettmar on 83; the latter making his home debut for the
Reserves.
AFC Sudbury: Louis Johnson, Sam Mills, Ben Judge (Alfie
Carroll, 34’ (Ross Henry, 83’)), Joe Wright (Thomas Dettmar, 83’), Toby
Mitchell, Tyler French, Ryan McNicholas, Wayne Blackman, Charlie Gilbert, Ollie
Dunlop, James Axcell. Subs: Reece White, Joe Copping.
Braintree Town: David Leader, Henry Graham, Kieran Elliott,
Alfie Walker (C), Will Young (Flynn Tarman, 69’), Lewis Soraf, Luke Mallett,
Jacob Gyebi (Kofi Gyebi, 62), Jack Tyrer
(Palvy Manduakila, 62’), Harry Watkins, Cameron Marks. Subs: Devon Jeggo.