Preview: AFC Sudbury v Forest (17-8-13)

Forest will make one of the longest trips of the season this Saturday as we travel to AFC Sudbury.

We were  Sudbury’s first ever Ryman League opponents back on the opening day of the season in 2006. Laide Adeyemi put us a goal in front, but two late goals from the  Suffolk side condemned Dave Muir’s side to defeat.

In the 12 meetings between the two sides, Forest have only won once. The last victory came in January 2012 when goals from Arian Retkoceri and Manu Dagher overturned a 1-0 deficit at half time.

Sudbury are one of many sides in the division with one win and one defeat so far this season. They beat many people’s favourites Thurrock 3-1 on the opening day of the season, before going down 2-1 to Soham Town Rangers at home in midweek.

A season of managerial changes in the Eastern Counties saw former Wroxham manager David Batch brought in to oversee Sudbury. The squad he has compiled features a number of familiar faces including Michael Shinn, Jamel Fox, Angelo Harrop and Michael Brothers.

Speaking after his side’s loss to Soham on Tuesday, Batch said: “We got back in the game and I think if we had scored the penalty it changes the game.

“If we go ahead then there was only ever going to be one team winning it.

“But fair play to them, when we were bombing everyone forward and left two at the back they have had three or four good chances and could have put the game to bed.”

There will be live updates from the match on the club’s twitter stream: @walthamforestfc