Smith urges AFC Sudbury to learn from cup exit
NICKY Smith is calling on his side to show their character and bounce back from their FA Cup heartbreak when they take on Romford.
Despite being dumped out of the cup by Stamford AFC this week, Sudbury could make it three wins out of three in the league in front of their own fans on Saturday.
The clash with Romford (3pm) in the Ryman Division One North fixture provides the perfect stage for Smith to see what his players are made of, and his disappointed team are set to be boosted by the addition of a former Colchester United striker.
Russell Malton, 19, joined in training this week with club officials confident of sorting out his registration in time for Saturday.
Smith said: "We tried to get him in the summer from Colchester United but he went to Concord Rangers, and due to their signings went to Heybridge on loan and we got wind of it and made an approach and he decided to leave after one game.
"He is a very quick front player-cum-right-side player and his play is very positive."
Malton was on the substitutes bench for League One Colchester United last season before being loaned out to Ryman side Heybridge Swifts in January, where he hit a purple patch, scoring eight goals in 13 games.
His arrival comes after AFC's last gasp equaliser at home to Stamford in the FA Cup on Saturday proved worthless as Sudbury ended up losing Tuesday's replay 2-1 - which meant Monday's league game at Hyebridge was called off. Striker James Baker got the late consolation.
"I am very disappointed," said Smith of thier cup exit at the extra preliminarily stage.
"We did not impose ourselves over the two games and got sucked into playing a long ball game, which we do not do. They were not a bad side though.
"I said to the lads afterwards it will show the strength of character in the side with how we look to bounce back from this.
"The financial side of going out of the FA Cup is a big blow though."
Romford come to the MEL Group Stadium with a win, draw and loss from their opening three league games, while Sudbury remain on course for a perfect start having so far played a game less.
Nathan Clarke will be one player who will be playing no part for a while, after his second consecutive red card on Saturday has seen the 21-year-old defender slapped with a four-game ban.
Smith said: "There was a lot of frustration in him and it is one of those things, he is only a young lad but he'll be out for four games.
"We have a decent squad and there is an opening for a squad member over those four games."
Smith has also urged his players to get the ball down and play football when Romford visit at the weekend.
"It could be a difficult one, they have got off to a reasonable start and are a big physical side but if we can get the ball down and play it wide, we'll hopefully have a bit too much."
AFC then travel to Great Wakering Rovers on Tuesday (7.45pm).
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Weather for Sudbury
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
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Temperature: -3 C to 0 C
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