Ah, football in mid November, you can’t beat it. Grey skies, cold wind. The smell of wet, muddy grass…..
Today, we welcomed AFC Sudbury to Birch. With most other teams in the league involved in cup matches, this was a chance for both sides to get some points on the board and maybe climb up the table a little.
It was a disastrous start for the Athletic. Despite some earlier pressure with chances falling to Elliot and Jacob, it was Sudbury that went into the lead after Sam got his hand to a corner, but was unable to keep the ball out when another Sudbury player was unmarked to slam the ball into the net.
Only a minute later, the Athletic were two goals down. A though ball from Sudbury’s midfield was picked up by a forward and despite Adam and James Ruffles running back with the play, and Sam running towards it, they passed like a well organised motorbike display team and the ball trickled into the area, followed shortly afterwards by the Sudbury forward. The Athletic defence tried to get back, but it was too late and the ball was in the back of the net again. 0-2!.
Things could only get better…..and they did.
Four minutes later, the Athletic had a chance. From a James Axcell corner, the ball fell to Elliot, who prodded it into the net. 1-2.
Just a miuute later, James floated in another corner, this time onto the head of Craig, but he couldn’t keep his header down and it looped over the bar to the accompaniment of a loud groan from the touchline.
The Athletic continued to press forward and Elliot and James Axcell both had great chances to score, but perhaps the easiest chance fell to Jacob minutes later. Connor launched in a corner from the right hand side and – just like Craig minutes before – Jacob had a free header from inside the six yard box. Unfortunately, just like before, he also headed it over the bar, and – just like before – there was a loud groan from the touchline…
With half-time approaching, the Athletic supporters, their number swelled by a strange visitor from foreign lands, cheered for an equalizer. It was a goal worth waiting for, and one which wouldn’t have looked out of place at The Emirates. Thanks to some great passing to feet and running off the ball from Tim, Elliot and Jacob, Elliot then found himself in the area and he coolly slotted the ball home to level the scores. 2-2.
There were just five minutes to go until half-time, but the Athletic were pouring forwards now and Jacob and Elliot both had chances to score before the two players linked well, Elliot holding up the ball for Jacob and then laying it off and inviting him to rifle in a shot, which he duly did. 3-2,and finally we were in front, just as the whistle blew for half-time.
The second half kicked off as the breeze started to pick up, but Sudbury can’t blame the weather for their disastrous start to the second half. No, it must have been the hairdryer treatment from Shane at half-time which fired up the Athletic supporters, because soon it was 6-2!!
Firstly, from an attack down the left, Elliot collected the ball and drilled it across the six-yard box. Before Jacob could stick out a foot, however, a Sudbury defender had saved him the trouble and the ball was in the net.
Then, James Axcell, looking much more like his old self, launched a corner across the edge of the area. Running towards the ball was James Ruffles, and there was going to be only one outcome when the ball flew off the outside of his foot. Yes, another goal: 5-2.
Finally (for now), Tim got in on the act when, yet again, another James Axcell corner caused chaos in the Sudbury defence and Tim was stood in exactly the right place at the back post to crash the loose ball into the net. 6-2.
Almost all the game was being played in the Sudbury half, and the crowd were hoping for more goals to cheer. They didn’t have to wait long. James Axcell shot towards the goal, and when the ball bounced off the post, Craig was on hand to slot in home. 7-2, and by now almost every touch by an Athletic player was greeted with a cheer from their supporters.
Into the last ten minutes and James Axcell continued to terrorise the Sudbury right back. First, a familiar left foot shot from the edge of the box, then a rare right-foot shot, which wrong-footed the keeper. Despite the oohs and aahs of the crowd, willing the ball into the net, it just dribbled wide.
With almost the last attack of the game, a long ball forward was met by Craig who steered his header into the goal. A nice goal, but a very poor celebration…. Still, at 8-2, he’s forgiven.
As the referee blew for full-time, and the crowd left the stadium, sorry, field, they reflected on a great comeback. After conceding two early goals, the Athletic played some great football and scored eight unanswered goals. It could have been more, but eight goals will do just fine.
Up next, our old “friends with the tent”, Stanway Rovers Reds. C’mon the Athletic!
