AFC Sudbury Reserves continued their fine form, as they beat Downham Town 3-0 on Saturday afternoon, at the Wardale-Williams Stadium.
Report by Louis Byers
At the Wardale-Williams Stadium
The previous weekend saw the two sides meet in Norfolk which
ended goal-less, but this match proved to be a different affair.
Joe Clements produced a good stop to deny Thomas Dettmar
from scoring in the seventh minute. The AFC man saw his well-struck free-kick blocked
by the Town goalkeeper.
AFC’s Curtis Child was equal to Matt Calvert’s effort in the
20th minute, in a threatening effort from the Norfolk visitors.
Sudbury deservedly took the lead in the 21st
minute: A good header from Danny Bloomfield was blocked well by Clements, with
the ball falling to Jake Colclough,
who buried home the rebound effort.
The home side doubled their lead in the 28th minute – a well
taken volley from Thomas Dettmar
landed in the back of the net, from a free-kick.
Joe Wright and Danny Bloomfield played a good one-two
technique, moments after, with Wright smashing the ball but it flew inches wide
of Clements’ post.
AFC took firm control of the game in the 33rd
minute, as Danny Bloomfield calmly
struck home to make it 3-0 to the hosts.
Danny Bloomfield and Ollie Peters both had chances in the
closing stages of the half, but their efforts were both blocked.
Half-time: AFC
Sudbury Reserves 3-0 Downham Town
AFC’s Kane Munday forced Joe Clements into a low save, while
Craig Dickson saw a deep cross roll out for a goal-kick at the other end.
Dettmar could have had a second goal in 62nd minute, after
smashing the crossbar with his powerful strike. Colclough claimed the ball,
although his shot was saved by Clements.
In the space of two minutes, Downham captain Pat Yates
picked up two yellow cards for fouls, and departed the field in the 72nd
minute.
Downham had a chance to get something from their trip to
Sudbury on 86: First, the ball was fed to Nathan Cross who saw his effort
blocked. The resulting corner was headed wide by substitute Karl Tansley.
Two final efforts from Ollie Peters and Joe Walker saw AFC
continue to pressure the visitors up to the final whistle.
It was a great performance from the home side, who pick up
their third consecutive clean sheet.
This match came after the lunchtime Essex Senior Reserve league match between AFC and Barking.
This match came after the lunchtime Essex Senior Reserve league match between AFC and Barking.
Full-time: AFC
Sudbury Reserves 3-0 Downham Town
AFC Sudbury Res: Curtus Child, Toby Mitchell (Reece White,
80’), Joe Walker, Joe Wright, Sam Mills, Alfie Carroll, Jake Colclough, Tom
Dettmarr, Danny Bloomfield (Oliver David, 85’), Oliver Peters, Kane Munday (Ben
Judge, 59’). Unused Subs: Ben Hunter, Adam Dunnage.
Downham Town: Joe Clements, Craig Dickson, Jono Sykes (James
Dougal , 46’), Nathan Cross, Pat Yates (sent off, 82’), Matt Calvert, Alex
Bailey (Karl Tansley ,46’), Liam Cox, Awoy Willmott (Tom Gilbert, 84’), Zak
Merrishaw, Ben Fenn. Unused Sub: Luke Gooding.