AFC Sudbury 0-4 Colchester
Tonight’s clash in the FA cup 1st round sees a first competitive matchup between 8th tier non-league side AFC Sudbury and League Two outfit Colchester United.
The game is somewhat of a local derby too with the home of the Suds, Kings Marsh, a mere 11 miles from the Weston Homes stadium, only adding to the stakes of such a big tie for the Non-league side.
While many give the plucky Suds little chance, it is important to consider Colchester’s quite frankly appalling record in the competition, especially when in League Two. The U’s have been knocked out at the first hurdle in the competition on the last five occasions, including twice too non-league outfits in Oxford City and Marine.
On top of this, the Suds come into the tie in fantastic form, after, despite losing 3-0 to Brentwood Town last time out, they won all of their previous five games with a +13 goal difference in the time.
While it may only be a glimmer of hope for the Non League side against a team four divisions higher, its all their fans will need.
ONES TO WATCH-
AFC Sudbury – Shane Temple – The young striker has been in and amongst the first team mix for a year or two now and spent the summer on trial at a host of football league clubs such as Oldham and Scottish giants Rangers, also even scoring against Sunderland’s first team in an in-house friendly. Colchester switch off for a minute at your peril.
Colchester United – Armando Dobra – On loan from local side Ipswich Town, the young Albanian attacking midfielder will be keen to carry his form from last weekend in which he dipped a fizzing shot over the keeper from an almost impossible angle. The non-league side will have to nullify his threat if they want to get anything from this game.
Kickoff- Freddie Sears gets us underway after every player takes the knee
2- A late challenge from Reece Harris gives Colchester and Jasper a set piece situation a few yards wide of the Sudbury area
3- CHANCE- George drops a floated cross from a set piece situation from deep, leading to a scramble in the Colchester area but both of the Suds efforts are smothered by gold and black shirts
6- CHANCE- Clampin delivers a ball into the area finding Chilvers, however Grimwood does well to get in-front of the shot, and yellow and blue shirts swarm the ball, allowing no Colchester player a sniff on goal from the rebound
7- INJURY- Young fullback Clampin goes down under no challenge and on-field requires treatment before going off. Can the non-league side capitalise?
10- SAVE- Sudbury very nearly go ahead after O’Malley slots in Andrews, who cuts inside before shooting. George gets down extremely well to his left to stop Andrews’ effort which deflects in front of the stopper
11- SAVE- Blunkell blocks well as Sears is put through on goal- however his shot is straight at the keeper
11- Substitution for Colchester
Clampin OFF Coxe ON
14- CHANCE- Wiredu meets a low cross come shot from Dobra right infront of the Sudbury goal unopposed- but Blunkell saves terrifically with his foot, spreading himself Peter Schmeichel-esqe infront of the midfielder
20- SHOT- Colchester continue to probe around the Sudbury area, with Chilvers chancing his arm with his left foot, though his shot is poor and almost turns into a cross for Dobra before O’Malley clears
22- Corner for Colchester-conceded by Harris
22- CHANCE- despite clearing the initial corner Sudbury cannot clear, leading to Sears turning in the box and shooting into Grimwood who makes a goal saving clearance
24-YELLOW– Andrews is shown the yellow for a poorly timed tackle on Jasper
26- SAVE- Chilvers tests Blunkell with a first time effort from the edge of the area, however the young keeper stands firm saving and holding to his left
27- DOUBLE CHANCE- Dobra is picked out in the box by Sears but a brilliant box from Harris stops his goalbound effort, However the Yellows can’t clear there lines calling Blunkell into action again, who saves well at his nearest from a close range effort by Sears
32- SHOT- Chilvers long range effort sails over the Sudbury bar and out of the stadium
35- GOAL!!!!!!– the visitors are infront courtesy of Wiredu who ghosts into the backpost turning a deflected Chilvers cross from just yard out, serenading the home fans with a cheeky shush in celebration
AFC Sudbury 0-1 Colchester
39- GOAL!!!! Its 2-0 to the visitors after a lovely volley from Freddie Sears into the bottom right corner, setup by a Wiredu cushioned touch on the edge of the box.Blunkell never had a chance- AFC Sudbury have a mountain to climb now
AFC Sudbury 0-2 Colchester
41- SHOT- Dobra cuts in on his right and looks to bend towards the far top right corner, but his effort is well high and wide
45+2- A small lifeline for Sudbury as Coxe brings down Frimpong handing Sudbury a set piece in dangerous position – Harris’ delivery is claimed unchallenged by George however.
45+4- Good goalkeeping from Blunkell as he cuts out a floated through ball intended to reach Sears, nipping infront of the striker, denying him a great chance
HALF TIME
The home side have been comprehensively dominated by the visitors, with them not having so much as a sniff on goal since the first two minutes. The Football League side look a cut above, with them holding the majority of the possession in the non-League sides half and looked like scoring long before they eventually got their quickfire double late on in the half. The Essex based side will most definitely look to add to their two goals with Jasper and Sears looking the likely candidates after their dangerous first half performances. A busy 45 minutes ahead for Blunkell one will imagine.
KICK OFF- we are back underway courtesy of O’Malley
46-YELLOW– Feisty start to the second half as Temple is shown the yellow card for a late kick-out on Eastman 10 yards from the halfway line
52- RED CARD SHOUT- Jasper is on the receiving end of a hard tackle from the already booked Andrews and is need of on field treatment. The winger manages to shake the injury off and continue playing
54- Substitution for Sudbury
Temple OFF Clowesley ON
58- Its been a quiet start to the half as the league side look to use their professional nous to nullify Sudbury and almost hold what they have in a two goal lead, though the Yellows shape and collective press has looked much better than it did in the first half
59- A foul by Chilvers on Turner leaves the centre back needing on field treatment and gives Sudbury a set piece situation just inside the Colchester half- Chambers comfortably clears the long ball into the box however
62-CHANCE- Coxe gathers a poor Tchamadeu cross before squaring to Dobra who dummy past a yellow and blue shirt leaving them on the floor, but his shot to the near post is poor and gathered easily by Blunkell
63- SHOT- Dobra again cuts inside and fires between to yellow and blue shirts, but his shot goes comfortably over the bar and into the netting behind the low Sudbury stand
Colchester have ventured forward more, with players in the yellow and blue shirts now looking extremely leggy after having to defend off the ball for the best part of an hour. Dobra has looked dangerous recently, though he has lacked the end product to punish the home side
68- Chance for Sudbury as O’Malley drives through the U’s midfield before being taken down by Skuse 20 yards from the Colchester area
69- Substitution for Sudbury
Andrews OFF Hipkin ON
70- CHANCE- Nearly a lifeline for the home side as Reece Harris whips a brilliant delivery to the back post. However, Christian Frimpong squanders the chance by directing his header into the ground and it bounces wide. Glorious chance missed!
71- GOAL!!!!!- Jasper gets the goal he deserves! The on-loan winger, collects the ball from a short Dobra corner, before turning and bending a sensational ball past Blunkell into the back post. A goal of the highest calibre. Colchester are surely out of sight now!
AFC Sudbury 0-3 Colchester
73- Triple substitution for Colchester
Sears OFF Nouble ON
Skuse OFF Cooper ON
Dobra OFF McCoulsky on
75-SHOT- Clowesly chances his arm from long range but George catches comfortably as the effort is tame and straight at the keeper
78- Substitution for Colchester
Jasper OFF Hannant ON
Shaw OFF Gilchrist ON
80-SHOT- Finally some excitement for the home fans as academy product and ex-Colchester player, Hipkin cuts inside and looks to beat George, though his effort is weak and collected easily by the stopper
81- CHANCE- Another memorable moment for the home side as Cruis Ny Adzayo brilliantly runs the length of the pitch, before shooting in the Colchester area, however he scuffs his effort and has to watch as it rolls well wide
83- YELLOW– George is shown the yellow card for kicking the ball away
85- YELLOW– Sudbury skipper O’Malley is shown the yellow for an unknown reason after speaking to the ref briefly on halfway- one can only presume what was said by the 19 years-old
88- Set piece for Sudbury just inside the Colchester area- taken short by Harris to O’Malley who’s cross is to heavy but is collected by Grimwood who turn and fires at the near post but sees his shot blocked by George sharply. Corner to Sudbury which is defended comfortably by Colchester
Five additional minutes- can Sudbury make use of them and pull one back at least?
91- CHANCE- George miskews a backpass into the air which is touched down by Ny Adzayo , however his touch into the box is heavy allowing Chambers to get in and clear
93- GOAL!!!!- McCoulsky sweeps in a Hannant cross on the volley from the 6 yard box into the near corner with the ball being past Blunkell before he can even react. Debut goal for the youngster after his introduction from the bench. Colchester are running riot now
AFC Sudbury 0-4 Colchester
94- YELLOW- Nouble is in the referee’s book for a late challenge.
FULL TIME
AFC Sudbury 0-4 Colchester
A thoroughly professional performance from Colchester who break their FA cup curse after five years and will have a happy 11 mile coach journey home.
While Sudbury never really laid a glove on the league side, they can walk away with the heads held high after holding them for over half an hour and reaching this game in the first place.
Man Of The Match- It has to go to Sylvester Jasper whose pace and creativity was a constant thorn in the Yellows side, before netting a fierce strike in the 71st minute to put the U’s out of reach. Special mention to Josh Blunkell however, who made some fantastic saves to keep the game level for so long.
Well it was nice to dream, however it wasn’t to be. Nevertheless hope you enjoyed the occasion, see you soon !
