Match report: Cambridge City 2-1 AFC Sudbury

Cambridge City faced AFC Sudbury in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup, with the prize a place in the First Qualifying Round. City were coming into the game on the back of a 2-1 loss in their opening league match against recently relegated Canvey Island. AFC Sudbury had also been relegated and they had started life in the 8th tier with three consecutive defeats, the last of which was a 1-0 loss to newly promoted Mulbarton Wanderers.

City won their last FA Cup match, which was a 4-1 win over fellow Isthmian League North side Lowestoft Town in the Extra Preliminary Round, whereas Sudbury were appearing in the Cup for the first time this campaign.

It was a slow opening to the match, with both teams approaching attacking areas but being let down in the final third. With 25 minutes there came a big call from the referee. Sudbury had just survived a corner when a free-kick was given away after a handball. Jack Thompson took the free-kick and, as the cross flew harmlessly into touch, Charlie Lewis and George Keys tangled in the penalty area and both players dropped to the ground. Referee Ben Darken waved away any appeals from both teams. Five minutes later came the turning point. A Sudbury break saw Tom Maycock play in a perfectly weighted pass to Kyran Clements. James Philp came in to deny Clements from netting. The ball was then cleared before an attacker could win the ball back. Straight up the other end, Charlie Royle broke away and played a pass to Reece Harris, whose shot was saved by Finley Iron but only into the path of Freddie Hockey and the striker made no mistake by poking in to give City the lead.

City tried to double their lead within the next minutes but were unable to. This included a Hockey effort which was blocked after good work from Charlie Norman down the wing, a cross by Travis Dodsworth that missed Fletcher Toll by millimetres and Toll was again unable to beat the defence after Dodsworth's cross was punched away by Iron. With two minutes left of the first half, Sudbury hit City with the equaliser. Kaidon Tower-King sent in a corner which was headed home by George Chenery inside a packed penalty area to level the scores.

City continued the second half looking to retake the lead. A Thompson corner was sent towards Jaiden Babalola and the header was blocked on the line after 51 minutes. Three minutes later and City did retake the lead. Toll fed Hockey on the left-hand side, and the ball was then squared to Royle to tap in to give City a 2-1 advantage. Thompson then gave Norman a chance for a cross which was cleared out. The resulting corner was initially cleared but was rescued by Dodsworth and crossed into the path of Jayden Randell but the captain sent his shot wide. City could've tied the game up with three minutes left. A poor clearance by Chenery fell into the path of Charles Brown-Bampoe, who then played in Babalola to finish but Babalola rolled his strike wide. Sam Chaney did the same just moments later after playing a fine one-two with Babalola, but the shot was dragged wide.

The full time whistle then signalled the end of the match to give City the 2-1 win and book their place in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, but for AFC Sudbury this defeat continues a run of losses that stretches to four games. City are back in action on Tuesday 25th August, as they make the trip to North London to face Walthamstow.

Thank you to Connor Taylor-Creek for the match report.