Coggeshall Town v AFC Sudbury. 24^th September 2019

After heavy overnight night rain, the pitch had dried out well and the surface felt just right for playing good football. As in the previous Velocity Trophy game Manager Graeme Smith made some changes from the team that played the previous Saturday. AFC Sudbury also made changes to give their Academy players some game time, but they still had 9 players in the squad that were on their team sheet from Saturday’s game.

The Town started the match on the front foot and Ross Wall placed a header just wide of the Sudbury goal on 4 minutes. On 10 minutes, Nnamdi Nwachuku shot just wide. As the game progressed, the play switched from end to end, with both sides playing some attractive football. When Coggeshall were attacking the pace of Michael Gyasi and Nnamdi caused the Sudbury defence some problems and in Midfield Conor Hubble, Chris Regis and Aryton Coley were combining well. 

Town took the lead on 30 minutes after good work by Nnamdi who laid a great cross into the box for Ross Wall to head home from the edge of the 6-yard box. After Town has taken the lead Sudbury had their best spell off the game so far and Matt Walker made a smart save diving to his left to keep the score at 1 – 0. However, it was not long before Sudbury equalised with a 30yd shot from Tom Maycock, which gave Walker no chance. Sudbury now had their tails up, but on the stroke of half time Town took the lead. Nnamdi showed great strength and composer as he beat the Sudbury keeper and a defender to through ball to make the score 2 – 1 as he passed the ball in to the empty net. 

Half Time – Coggeshall Town 2 AFC Sudbury 1.

The second half started with Town on the attack and in the first few minutes, they created three or four half chances. The seedgrowers were now in control, the defence looked solid with centre halves Josh Pollard (Captaining the side for the first time) and Dexter Peter commanding the central positions. Fullbacks Tyler Brampton and George Cocklin (playing in this unaccustomed roll) getting forward at every opportunity. On 60 minutes, Town made their first substitution with Jack Simmons coming on for Tyler. Jack is working his way back to full fitness after a 7-month lay-off with a serious knee injury. Soon after Jack and Conor Hubble combined to set up a great chance for Nnamdi who put his shot wide from 2 yds out. After more good work, Jack laid a ball across the penalty area to Ross Wall his first time strike being blocked by a defender. 

On 68 minutes, Tom Blackwell and Teven Allen were introduced in to the game as subs for Nnamdi Nwachuku and Michael Gyasi. It did not take them long to combine for the third goal. On 76 minutes Tevan made ground on the right and fired in a powerful shot that the Sudbury keeper could not hold, Tom reacted first and although three defenders surrounded him, he made space for himself to fire the ball past the keeper and into the net for his first goal for the Town. Now leading 3 – 1 Town were controlling the game, more chances followed with Jack putting a shot just wide of the post and then on 84 minutes he scored his first goal for the club making it 4 – 1 after being played in by Ross Wall. 

Town were still creating chances, Conor shot from distance, which the keeper parried away. Ross Wall headed wide of the post and then on 87minutes following a move started by Chris Regis he capped his Man of the Match performance showing great strength to get between a defender and the keeper to head home his second goal of the night. 

This was an entertaining game with Town playing some great football and sending the fans home happy.

Full Time – Coggeshall Town 5 AFC Sudbury 1.