THIS WEEKEND’S MATCH PREVIEW – AFC SUDBURY (HOME) KO 3.00 PM

Saturday brings AFC Sudbury to Champion Hill for Dulwich Hamlet’s first ever home encounter with last season’s Ryman North Champions.

This afternoon’s visitors have made a solid start to their maiden Ryman Premier Division campaign and after 14 games they sit in 8th spot, just three points adrift of Dulwich Hamlet and five shy of Tonbridge Angels current occupiers of the last playoff place. Indeed, after a strong start to the season they were well ensconced amongst the leading pack, rising as high as fourth spot after surviving August unbeaten before suffering their first defeat at the hands of Tonbridge Angels on 10th September when Luke Allen’s sole goal was enough to claim the points for the Kent side at the King’s Marsh Stadium.

Results fluctuated in the wake of that reverse, heavily beaten 5-0 by the well-oiled machine that is Ebbsfleet United as FA Cup dreams were cruelly shattered at Stonebridge Road. Narrow defeats in the league frustrated. A 3-2 at home to a Billericay Town team in the process of firing up the motors for their own challenge to climb the table. Runaway leaders Leiston 2-1 winners at Victory Road despite a late rally from AFC Sudbury. At home to Leatherhead team, the Tanners claimed a first time win under newly installed manager Jimmy Bullard, that in spite of the dismissal of Tom Bradbrook with the scores still level at 1-apiece. A thumping 5-2 win away to Waltham Abbey in the Ryman League Cup took the Suds through to the third round of the competition.

However, the slide in league form could not be arrested as an away day at Kingstonian turned into a second half disaster, the K’s running out convincing 3-0 winners after the game had been deadlocked at the interval. Defeat there saw the Suds slump to 12th in the Premier Division table but so tight are things at the moment that a crunching 5-1 win over Grays Athletic the following Tuesday launched the team six rungs up the ladder. With only Craig Parker’s goal to show for their first half endeavours, the game changed radically in a manic 15 second half minutes. Jordan Blackwell bookended the spell with goals in the 64th & 79th minutes with Liam Wales and Sam Bantick finding the net to see Sudbury galloping towards a much needed three points. Though Etienne Mukanya Kabobola ruined the clean sheet at the death, Sudbury now found themselves once more nocking at the door of the playoff places.

Last Saturday Sudbury had the chances to gain further ground on the promotion contenders with a trip to a Bognor Regis Town side unbeaten at Nyewood Lane since their first home game of the season. Despite going behind to Alex Parsons’ goal just before halftime, AFC Sudbury levelled with ten minutes left through Jack Parsons only to doze off in defence two minutes later as a quickly taken free kick set up James Fraser to steal a winner for the Rocks.

Midweek once more saw AFC’s attention turn to the chase for silverware, this time in the Suffolk FA Premier Cup. The visit of Walsham Le Willows of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division provided an evening of great entertainment at King’s Marsh as the goals starting flying in from the 6th minutes. Jack Wilson made it 1-0, seven later Liam Wales made it 2-0 adding third just before the break after the visitors had pulled one back. Craig Nurse dispatched a penalty for Walsham Le Willows to make for a tight game but then it became the Craig Parker Show as the former Leiston striker bagged four goals in the space of a quarter-hour to make the final score 7-2!

This afternoon’s game takes place at Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD, kicking off at 3.00pm. Main turnstiles will be open from 1.15 pm with the Greendale turnstiles open shortly after. Guests and officials are asked to enter via the Health Club reception which Season Ticket holders may also use on display of their season ticket.

Admission prices:

• £10 for Adults
• £4 for Concessions
• NB: Concessions cover Seniors - 60+, Teenagers (13-19), Unemployed (JSA), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), NHS Staff, Blue Light Services, Serving Members of the Armed Forces and Full Time Students. (Please bring a form of valid ID for your concession as you might not be admitted without that)
• Under 13s FREE accompanied by a paying adult

Programmes: £2