An AFC Sudbury XI picked up their first point of the season, as they drew 3-3 in their Essex Senior Reserve League match on Saturday lunchtime.
Report by Louis Byers
At the Wardale-Williams Stadium, Sudbury
The Yellows took the lead in the early stages as Kie Dyer curled a superb free-kick into the net past Brandon Bullman, in the 2nd minute.
The first chance for the visitors came in the fifth minute, as James Jaconelli tried his luck from long range, but his deep cross flew past everyone.
Callum Hemson produced a good strike in the ninth minute, following good play from the home side, but the effort was ruled offside.
Lucas Collins produced a good save on 16 minutes; at the other end, Callum Fuller was gifted with a good chance, although Bullman was equal to the effort.
The AFC goalkeeper, Collins, produced another good stop, as he punched away Jaconelli’s header from a Barking free-kick.
Sudbury’s dominance paid off in the 22nd minute, as Callum Fuller calmly tapped home Hemson’s close-range free-kick, to give the Yellows a 2-0 lead.
The Essex visitors did not give up, and threatened on the half-hour mark when defender Jack Chapman fired an effort over the bar.
Alister Thomas headed just wide from a Barking free-kick, following Ben Hunter’s foul.
The visitors continued to press, and Jaconelli smashed his 37th minute shot against Collins’ crossbar.
Andy Edmunds was denied a goal in the later stages of the half, as he was fed through on goal, but Collins was quick off the marks to claim the ball himself. Moments after, David Boateng’s effort for the Blues was offside, after getting the ball in the back of the net.
Half-time: AFC Sudbury 2-0 Barking Reserves
Straight from the restart, the Essex side went straight down the wing, and Blues substitute Philly Alabo delivered the ball towards Courtney Homans who headed home at the back post.
Barking’s Jaconelli had a high shot fly wide of the goal, as the visitors continued to dominate the early stages.
The Essex visitors drew level on 64 minutes, as substitute Philly Alabo easily slotted home after Collins was unable to clinch onto Alister Thomas’s cross.
The home side were furious after Callum Hemson’s strike, from a scrambled attack, was disallowed on 71 minutes. And it got worst for the home side as the visitors snatched the lead, three minutes after. 2-3.
The visitors could have extended their lead, as a free-kick was fed towards James Jaconelli , but he cut the ball wide of the goal.
AFC looked dominant, going into the final ten minutes, despite having two corners cleared away.
However, AFC Sudbury made it level on 87 minutes Callum Fuller chipped the ball over Brandon Bullman, to secure a draw.
The Yellows very much deserved the draw, and were unlucky not to win it. It means the team pick up their first point of the season after three games.
The second match of the afternoon saw a Reserves side beat Downham Town 3-0.
AFC Sudbury Res: Lucas Collins, Tom Prentice, Adam Dunnage, Milo Grimes (Reece White, 80’), Craig Avery, Ben Hunter (cpt), Oscar Gammon (Kade Watt, 59’), Kie Dye, Callum Henson, Aaron Pengelly (Michael Carrigan, 68’), Callum Fuller.
Barking Res: Brandon Bullman, Remel Palmer, Jack Chapman, Alister Thomas, David Boateng, Michael Bullman, James Jaconelli, Alec Monk, Dowda Nire, Courtney Homans, Andy Edmunds. Subs (all used): Jonathon Hockley, Billy Nicholls, Philly Alabo