Football: AFC always well in charge
Earlier in the season AFC Sudbury forced a draw in the reverse fixture with virtually the last kick of the game.
EARLIER in the season AFC Sudbury forced a draw in the reverse fixture with virtually the last kick of the game.
But it was a different story on Saturday at King's Marsh Stadium where first-half goals from Matty Clements and James Rowe put the home side well in charge at the break.
Although the Essex side pressed more after the interval, a second goal from Rowe clinched a fine victory for Mark Morsley's team to retain second place, five points behind leaders Dartford who won courtesy of a stoppage-time goal.
Gareth Heath, who had scored four times in the three previous games, will still be wondering how he failed to add to his total as two gilt-edged second-half chances went begging.
With Stuart Boardley out injured, the manager opted for the team which finished in the midweek victory at Witham, while the re-signed Darren Bethell was named among the substitutes.
The strong overnight winds had subsided by kick-off, and a crowd of 275 saw a game played in much calmer conditions.
An early AFC corner set the pattern for most of the first half with the home side dominating. Twice Brentwood keeper Marc Palmer was forced into tip over saves in the opening minutes, the first from Clements, and an even better one from Rowe whose shot dipped after a deflection off a defender.
The home side put several good moves together, but it took a fine solo goal from Clements to open the scoring after 23 minutes.
The speedy Clements gained possession on the edge of the centre circle and headed goalwards, leaving defenders in his wake before firing low past the advancing keeper to open AFC's account.
Not much was seen from Brentwood as an attacking force. They were relying on counter attacks, and from one David Head, who had an outstanding game in the heart of the AFC defence, made a timely tackle on the edge of his own area to prevent Michael Deane from getting a shot on goal.
Steve King headed over from a free kick in another Brentwood attack. But generally play was at the other end, and Luke Hammond forced Palmer to go full-length to save at the expense of a corner.
With Gareth Simpson and Hammond dominating the midfield AFC had been threatening to double their lead, and it came a minute before the interval when Rowe seized on to a long throw. Although Palmer blocked his first effort, the AFC striker tucked the rebound home from a narrow angle.
AFC had been good value for their two-goal first-half lead, but they spent a lot of the second half on the back foot as the visitors showed much more in the way of attacking ambitions.
But the home defence was in fine form. In fact it was eight minutes from the end before Brentwood got a shot on target when Nathan Munson had little difficulty in saving Lee Noble's effort. Prior to that several efforts had been well wide of the mark.
Twice Heath came close to scoring a third for AFC. Each time he was set up by Rowe. The first time he was denied by Palmer, who stuck out a leg to save at the expense of a corner, and an even better chance came when Rowe raced away down the right.
His low cross found Heath at the far post, who looked certain to score, but the close-range effort went the wrong side of the post.
With four minutes remaining Rowe made the game safe for AFC with his second goal of the game, a fine solo effort.
A careless throw-in by Brentwood was seized on by Rowe whose angled run was finished off in style with a powerful shot, to take his season's league total to 26.
It had been a fine win by AFC who now face a tough series of games in the run-in to the end of the season.
AFC Sudbury: Munson; Driver, Wardley, Hammond (Bacon 77), Girling, D Head, Heath, Clements (Bethell 72), Simpson, Rowe, S Head. Subs (not used): P Smith, N Smith, Hughes.
His low cross found Heath at the far post, who looked certain to score, but the close-range effort went the wrong side of the post.
With four minutes remaining Rowe made the game safe for AFC with his second goal of the game, a fine solo effort.
A careless throw-in by Brentwood was seized on by Rowe whose angled run was finished off in style with a powerful shot, to take his season’s league total to 26.
It had been a fine win by AFC who now face a tough series of games in the run-in to the end of the season.
AFC Sudbury: Munson; Driver, Wardley, Hammond (Bacon 77), Girling, D Head, Heath, Clements (Bethell 72), Simpson, Rowe, S Head. Subs (not used): P Smith, N Smith, Hughes.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sudbury
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -7 C to -1 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -5 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North east
