AFC Sudbury 1-2 Waltham Forest
Forest returned from Suffolk with all three points thanks a courageous and committed team performance.
Wale Ojelabi was without Ellis Sands and Courtney White, who had both returned to their home clubs in the week, but Matthew Redgrave continued at centre back.
As early as the sixth minute, the home side pushed for the first goal through Ingram who forced Eric Barratt to push clear.
With 25 minutes played, Efe Echanomi’s game, and possibly his season was ended after going in for a challenge with Smith. Echanomi was treated at the ground and then taken to West Suffolk hospital for treatment of a suspected broken leg.
It was Sudbury who were enjoying most of the chances in the first half, but on 29 Manu Dagher hit the post for Forest.
On 39, the home side made their possession count and took the lead, as Baker rose to head in Dalby’s cross.
Eric Barratt was far the busier ‘keeper, and made two comfortable saves before the first half was over.
Forest came out of the half-time break with a bit more bite, and made the scores level on 48 thanks to an Adrian Retkoceri chip.
Shortly after, Forest were forced to play six minutes with ten men, as Elton Sackey received treatment for a head injury.
The home side then forced three good chances in as many minutes. First Nathan Clark hit the crossbar, and then Baker and Shinn had efforts well dealt with by Barratt.
The final goal of the match came on the 65th minute as Manu Dagher was on hand to poke in the rebound from Peggy Lokando’s effort.
For the next half-hour, Sudbury dominated but failed to convert any of their chances.
In the dying embers, Lokando could have added daylight between the two sides, but his curling effort was just wide.
This victory was Forest’s first victory at Kings Marsh Stadium in six attempts, and the home side will no doubt be disappointed to learn that they could have moved into the play-off places with a victory today.
Forest travel to Suffolk again next weekend, as they take on league leaders Leiston, who dispatched Harlow Town 3-0 today.
The club would like to extend our gratitude to AFC Sudbury for their help around Efe Echanomi’s injury, and their physiotherapist for stepping in while the Waltham Forest physio attended Echanomi.
Today’s scores:
AFC Sudbury 1-2 Waltham Forest
Chatham Town 2-2 Potters Bar Town
Enfield Town 2-1 Great Wakering Rovers
Grays Athletic 0-1 Maldon & Tiptree
Harlow Town 0-3 Leiston
Heybridge Swifts 4-0 Brentwood Town
Ilford 1-2 Redbridge
Needham Market 7-0 Cheshunt
Thamesmead Town 4-0 Soham Town Rangers
Waltham Abbey 2-2 Tilbury
Ware 1-0 Romford
Today’s match report was written with the assistance of the AFC Sudbury twitter stream.
