Football: Wignall the hero as AFC earn replay
FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round AFC Sudbury 2 Stamford AFC 2
A DRAMATIC stoppage time equaliser from Jack Wignall earned Sudbury a cup replay from a match in which the Lincolnshire visitors dominated for long spells.
Early season league form was turned upside down as the home side went into Saturday's game on the back of two victories whereas Stamford had not scored a goal in their two defeats.
Stamford had the best of the early play but fell behind after 14 minutes when a quick Sudbury counter-attack ended with Sam Clarke netting from close range from Dave Wareham's left wing cross.
The visitors replied with plenty of pressure and only a fine tip-over save from Richard Wilmot prevented an equaliser. But the Sudbury keeper was beaten in the 25th minute, when, after making a point blank save to deny Miller, the loose ball was tucked home by Cotton for the equaliser. Some desperate Sudbury defending and fine keeping by Wilmot kept the visitors at bay and they almost fell behind after 37 minutes when Dave Wareham side-footed inches wide from another quick Sudbury break.
Just when it looked as if Sudbury would go in at the break on level terms they were made to pay for giving the ball away and Cotton finished well to give his side a half-time lead with his second of the game.
The second half was a more even affair with Stamford looking content to sit on their slender lead. Things did not look good for Sudbury when they were reduced to ten men after defender Nathan Clarke was sent off for an over-zealous challenge with 17 minutes remaining - his second red in consecutive games. But despite their numerical disadvantage the home side enjoyed their best spell of pressure, and it paid off in stoppage time when defender Wignall bundled home Tom Webb's free-kick to earn a replay.
AFC Sudbury: Wilmot, Agricole (Speed 52), Swain, S Clarke (Rayner 78), N Clarke, Wignall, S Wareham, Webb, Brown (Fox 52), Hughes, D Wareham. Unused subs: Adams, Snell and Howe.
* AFC Sudbury return to Ryman League action on Saturday with a home game against Romford (3pm). On Tuesday they travel to Great Wakering Rovers (7.45pm).
l WEEK 18 winners in the AFC Gold fundraiser are: 100 J Simpson (352), AFH, Gaol Lane, Sudbury; 10 M Campbell (270), Jennings Racing, Gaol Lane, Sudbury; 10 R Bray (353), AFH, Gaol Labe, Sudbury.
Cup fightback. AFC Sudbury came from behind in dramatic fashion at the MEL Group Stadium on Saturday to earn an FA Cup replay against Stamford AFC.
Pictures: Robert Parr. To order photo: Call 01787 375271 or log on to www.photostoday.co.uk. (Please put in order used clockwise - from top: MSFP-28-08-10-RPF-008, 017, 021, 023.)
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Weather for Sudbury
Friday 25 May 2012
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Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
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Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
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