Soccer: Rowe strike does the job
Some matches you win in fine style and some you win ugly.
Saturday's game at relegation-threatened Ilford was definitely in the latter category.
James Rowe was the AFC saviour, netting his 20th league goal of the season on the hour to clinch his team three important points from a poor match and their first league double of the campaign.
Up to then it looked as if Ilford, hammered 8-1 in the reverse fixture, although they fielded just three players from that game, were going to salvage a point.
And they should have done as in stoppage time substitute Julian Edwards squandered their best chance of the game when he shot over from less than six yards.
It was real let-off for Mark Morsley's team who needed the points to retain second place. A difficult playing surface and strong wind blowing the length of the ground did little to help either side. As a result it was not much of a spectacle for the meagre crowd of 88.
The attendance would have been a lot less had it not been for the large number of AFC fans who did their best to create some atmosphere, although that is not easy in the wide open spaces of Ilford's Cricklefield Stadium which has a running track around the pitch.
Morsley made three changes in a 3-5-2 formation. One of them was the welcome return of central defender Kevin Hughes after an absence of 16 months following a serious leg injury that needed surgery.
However, Hughes' comeback lasted just 45 minutes. A leg strain saw him replaced by Matt Stace for the second half. Up front leading scorer Rowe also returned from injury, as did Chris Bacon who last played on Boxing Day.
AFC kicked off into a strong wind and with bright sunshine in their faces. It was apparent from the start that it was not going to be easy in these conditions as AFC dominated in terms of possession but rarely looked like piercing a fragile Ilford defence.
Stuart Boardley forced home keeper James Marrable into a save at the expense of a corner after five minutes and it looked just a matter of time before the deadlock would be broken.
But it was midway through the half before AFC created another good opening. That came from Sheridan Driver's surging run and rising shot which was only just too high with Marrable beaten. Three more AFC corners were easily dealt with before Driver had a goalbound effort cleared.
The second half was more evenly contested although few scoring opportunites were created as defences continued to have the upper hand. Luke Hammond pounced on to a loose ball to send a powerful shot wide of the target before the deadlock was broken on the hour, with Rowe netting what proved to be the winning goal.
It came from a throw-in near the left corner flag. Bacon's flick was seized on by Rowe, who brought a fine block from Marrable. It looked as if the chance had gone but Rowe was quickly onto the rebound and, despite the angle, found the the net with a fine finish.
From then on the match was much more even with Ilford enjoying plenty of possession but failing to trouble Dean Neil in the AFC goal. Ilford forced two corners in quick succession, and from the second David Head was only inches wide from an own goal with his headed clearance.
A quick AFC counter-attack gave Gareth Heath the chance to double AFC’s lead but the midfielder chose to shoot instead of passing to the unmarked Rowe and the effort sailed over the bar.
With ten minutes remaining Neil rushed to the edge of his area to break up an Ilford attack and the ball broke kindly to Danny Downer whose header went wide of the unguarded goal.
Ilford were now having their best spell, and the AFC defence had to be at their best to deal with several dangerous free kicks and long throws from home skipper Rickie Hayles.
For AFC Head sent a header just wide from a corner as the match went into stoppage time, but seconds before the final whistle an Ilford free kick fell kindly to Edwards who looked certain to equalise. How he managed to lift his shot over the bar from very close range only he knows.
AFC Sudbury: Neil; Driver, Wardley, Hammond, Hughes (Stace 46), D Head, Heath, Simpson, Bacon, Rowe, Boardley. Subs (not used): S Head, Stokes, N Smith, Munson.
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Weather for Sudbury
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
