AFC Sudbury kick off a tough March Ryman League division one north programme with the visit of Brentwood Town to King's Marsh Stadium on Saturday (3pm), the first of five matches against teams chasing promotion.

The month will be a test of AFC's ambition and character, with games against Canvey away, Ware away, Enfield Town home, and Bury Town away, the latter on Easter Monday.

Not until the last Saturday of the month, when Waltham Forest come to King's Marsh, do AFC get a game against a struggling club.

Throw in the League Cup semi-final at Heybridge Swifts on Tuesday night, and it's big game after big game in quick succession. But manager Mark Morsley welcomes the challenge. "That's what we are in this league for," he said, "and that's why I took the AFC job."

Morsley's concern, that AFC do not always perform confidently away from home against weaker sides, will not be tested over the next few weeks.

Unlike Tuesday, where the 3-2 victory at Witham Town extended the unbeaten league run to ten matches, but AFC made hard work of it.
"I am pleased we extended the run," he said, "and we have to keep it going. But Tuesday night was a bit of a roller coaster.

"It was a cup final for them, and they worked their socks off. They were just determined to have a go, and it worked. If they played like that all season, they would be in the play-offs.

"But this is something we have to deal with. Possibly more than Dartford, who are a bit out on a limb, we get a lot of derby games. They say it's hard for London sides to win titles because of all the derbies, but I think that applies here."

Morsley told his players, before Tuesday's game, not to give Witham anything to hold on to. "We said give them no encouragement, but twice we gave them a lifeline."

Chris Bacon gave AFC the lead, but within minutes Witham levelled. And in the second half, soon after Gareth Heath had restored the lead with what Morsley called "a wonder goal", his fourth in three games,Witham levelled again.

"We conceded two appalling goals. Instead of playing possession for a while after scoring we gave them something to fight for."

James Rowe took his league total to 24 when he scored the winning goal, four behind Dartford's Brendon Cass, but the overall performance left Morsley concerned.

This was in contrast to the 1-0 win at Northwood on Saturday, where AFC inflicted a rare home defeat on the Middlesex side.

"Our back four and keeper were outstanding. We defended well, and set ourselves up as hard to beat. It was a competent performance, and I thought we deserved to win."

He welcomed Heath's return to goal-scoring form. "He has always scored goals, his confidence is back after a lean spell, and he works well with Rowe up front.

"Sometimes Rowe tries too hard to score. The supporters always expect him to, and he wants to keep in touch with Cass, so he puts pressure on himself."

Saturday's game against Brentwood he expects to be demanding. "But for them as well.

"They are a big, direct side and we need to get the ball down, play around them and use the width of the pitch."

Morsley has had League Cup opponents Swifts watched. "We want to win this competition, but we can't lose sight of the fact that the premier division is a very good level. It will be tough, but we are looking forward to it."

The match kicks off at 7.30pm and will be settled on the night, with extra time and penalties if needed.

Kevin Hughes warmed up with the team on Tuesday. "The injury that kept him out is fine," said Morsley. "But after a long-lay-off you get calf and hamstring problems."

Week 43 winners of the AFC Gold fundraiser: £100 – Miss N Tatum (480), Belle Vue Road, Sudbury; £10 – R Bray (353), AFH, Gaol Lane, Sudbury; £10 – P Robinson (164), North Rise, Great Cornard.