Match report: AFC Sudbury 1-3 Cambridge City

Cambridge City picked up an impressive win against AFC Sudbury on the late August Bank holiday. The two sides had met nine days earlier in the FA Cup, with the Lilywhites winning 2-1.

Both teams were in FA Trophy action last week. City played against Redbridge and managed to win the penalty shoot-out after Redbridge had levelled late on. Sudbury took on Lowestoft Town in the FA Cup, with the Yellows picking up their first win of the season, 3-1.

A crowd of 442 was in attendance for the match and it took no time for the first goal to come. Charlie Lewis had the ball in the right-back position and he expertly played a long searching ball up-field for Charlie Royle to latch on to. Royle then spotted Finley Iron off his line, and his excellent lobbed finish found the back of the net to give the visitors the perfect start. After a period in the game that saw George Keys booked for a challenge on Jaiden Babalola, and Danny Crow also receive a caution, a City throw saw Lewis Hayes pick up the ball quite a way from goal, and Hayes let fly with a strike that Iron did well to save.

City's next opportunity came with 26 minutes gone. Lewis Hayes had a free-kick which was taken quickly to provide Brown-Bampoe with a chance to take a strike at goal, which flew over the bar. Next up came some good movement from Charlie Norman to find a cross to allow Travis Dodsworth to fire in a shot which was deflected out for a corner. The resulting cross was curled into the penalty area for Alex Warman to jump up, unopposed, and grab City's second.

Five minutes later and City had their third. Babalola and Royle combined to allowed Norman some space to cross. The wing-back's cross was met beautifully by Brown-Bampoe, who made no mistake in netting for 3-0.  City continued to attack, and soon afterwards, Warman and Hayes set up another Norman cross, which Dodsworth connected with but Iron claimed with ease. City went into the break leading 3-0, having scored seven unanswered goals in the league after beating Walthamstow 4-0 away on Tuesday night.

The second half started and it was Sudbury who had the first chance. Charlie Oxborrow was sent through on 46 minutes, only for James Philp to deny the Sudbury man with a superb right arm save. Sudbury had the corner afterwards, and Philp's punch allowed Hayes to break towards the other end, which culminated in a save from Iron to thwart Royle from adding to his goal tally of four in the league. City looked to add a fourth in the coming minutes, but were unsuccessful each time. The next goal, however, came from the hosts. As a Sudbury attack broke down just inside the final third, Philp and Jayden Randell both came for the loose ball, which resulted in Philp clearing the free ball against Randell and it trickling into the net.

A few minutes later and Sudbury could have had a second. Scott Sloots flicked the ball on for Reuben Chinnery to seek out Callum Anderson, but the latter placed his header wide of the mark. Iron saved from Royle again after 77 minutes, following on from Royle connecting with Hayes' pass forward. Five minutes later, Dodsworth collected a pass from Reece Harris, and preceded to surge towards the penalty area, although his shot sailed over the crossbar.

Sam Chaney then had his own chance after 85 minutes. Lewis and Jack Thompson were on hand to pass through to Dodsworth, who in turn sent Chaney through, but the shot was sent wide. Freddie Hockey then had two more chances to add to the tally. The first came with four minutes left on the clock, Fletcher Toll playing a pass out wide to Hockey, who shot wide fiercely. Then, just a few minutes later, Hockey was in again to force Iron to save with his feet, after Toll managed to find the winger.

Sudbury couldn't muster any more efforts with the time left and City came away with all three points. In a match that City largely dominated, Sudbury never looked like taking the game away from the visitors, and City begin the season with two wins from two on the road.

Many thanks to Connor Taylor-Creek for the match report.