A youthful AFC Sudbury Reserves side fell to a 2-1 defeat to
Diss Town, despite a good, spirited performance, on Tuesday evening.
The home side, playing in their red away kit, dominated the
early stages, with Liam Wales delivering the ball out towards Reece White, who
saw his cross claimed by visiting keeper Lewis Riches, in the opening seconds.
Diss, playing in an all-blue strip, saw their two corners
cleared by the home side; notably Sam Page was unable to finish an effort
following Chris Gibbon’s good control in the 9th minute.
Calls for hand-ball were heard, after Town’s Jamie George struck
the ball at Louis Johnson, in the 13th minute.
Sudbury’s hard work paid off in the 17th minute,
as Charlie Gilbert did well to cut
inside the box, and tucked the ball home past Lewis Riches, to put the home
side 1-0 up.
Jack Newman looked to double AFC’s lead, with his narrow
effort curve wide of Riches’ goal.
Ben Fowkes replied for the visitors, and saw an effort soar
wide of Johnson’s goal.
Jamie George delivered the ball to Jason Armes, who was unable
to clinch onto the ball; the ball was played out to Ben Fowkes, who smashed the
ball towards the wrong side of the post on 25’.
However, a very dangerous tackle from Diss Town’s Sam Page,
on Louis Johnson, led to the AFC goalkeeper being stretchered off the field,
with ten minutes to play. Defender Toby Mitchell took over in goal.
The visitors drew level just before half-time, as Daniel Self knocked the ball home from
a Diss corner, with 42 minutes on the clock.
George Clarke had a shot for the hosts shoot over the bar,
while Jamie George’s effort from Daniel Self’s cross was claimed well by
Mitchell.
Half-time: AFC
Sudbury Res 1-1 Diss Town
The home side was hit with a second injury incident, as Jack
Newman was taken off for Joe Copping.
Liam Wales and George Clarke both had good efforts blocked
by the Tangerines, while substitute Joe Copping saw an effort flagged offside.
Sam Page looked to give Diss the lead, although his effort
was blocked well by Toby Mitchell. At the other end, Ross Bailey had a weak
effort blocked by Riches.
In the 70th minute, the visitors took the lead as
Kyle Downes smashed the ball into the back of the net, from a well crossed
corner.
AFC defender Jake Colclough was taken off for Danny
Bloomfield (74’).
Four minutes later, the home side almost drew level
following an excellent cross from Liam Wales is unable to be finished by Charlie
Gilbert. Gilbert did well a minute later, to make a run from the half-way line
towards goal, although Wales was unable to finish.
Sam Page looked to extend Diss Town’s lead, although his
effort was sliced wide of Mitchell’s goal.
Jason Armes and Sam Page was replaced by Thomas Wright and Adam
Burroughs, for the visitors, while Luke Priestley replaced Jamie George in the
closing moments of the match.
AFC Sudbury: Louis Johnson (Toby Mitchell, 42’), Jake
Colclough (Danny Bloomfield, 74’), Joe Walker, Ross Bailey, Stefano Mallardo,
Craig Avery, Reece White, Jack Newman (Joe Copping, 48’), George Clarke,
Charlie Gilbert, Liam Wales. Subs: Joe Copping, Toby Mitchell, Danny Bloomfield,
Callum Hemson, Brad Beevis.
Diss Town: Lewis Riches, Sean Brown, Sam Wenham, Joe
Manning, Chris Gibbons, Kyle Downes, Daniel Self, Jason Armes (Thomas Wright,
82’), Sam Page (Adam Burroughs, 82’), Jamie George (Luke Priestley 90+1’), Ben
Fowkes.
Attendance: 47