It’s been quite a week for AFC Sudbury’s Jack Cawley who, after scoring an 89th-minute winner on Monday, then went in goal to see his team grab a deserved point two days later.

With the scoreline goalless on Monday, against manager David Batch’s former club Wroxham, Cawley popped up with a crucialwinner at the MEL Group Stadium.

Two days later, and Cawley helped his side battle from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with Waltham Forest in bizarre circumstances.

With all three substitutes already used, Sudbury goalkeeper Alex Archer was unable to continue with a foot injury – and up stepped Cawley to pull on the gloves.

“When Alex went off injured, I was the first one to put my hand up,” admitted Cawley.

“I used to play in goal when I was younger and just fancied the challenge.”

Down to 10 men, Sudbury re-grouped and rallied to level the game through goals from Sam Clarke and Ryan Henshaw, before nearly pinching all three points right at the death – but striker James Baker couldn’t quite convert with seconds left to play.

“Fortunately I didn’t have to make any saves and the boys really put in a good performance when we went down to 10 men,” said Cawley.

“The comeback sort of summed us up as a group.

“We’re all from different areas but get on so well – and that’s one of the main reasons we are doing quite well.”

All in all, it’s been a rollercoaster of a season for Cawley.

After playing a few games for Ryman Premier outfit Leiston in August, the left-back was allowed to move on.

Following a brief spell at Wivenhoe Town where he scored a 70-yard effort against Kirkley & Pakefield, he has now settled down at Sudbury, following an extended run in the side.

“I’m doing OK,” said the defender.

“I think I could be doing better, but I’ve been quite happy with how I’ve played for Sudbury.

“I got sent off at Lowestoft for Leiston and was then allowed to leave by Danny Laws (Leiston manager at the time).

“He said to me that I could either go out on loan or look for a new club, so I initially went to play with my friends at Wivenhoe.

“I heard that Sudbury needed a left-back so Batchy (David Batch) and I spoke and I haven’t looked back.”

Following the midweek win over Wroxham and draw at Waltham Forest, Sudbury have moved up to fifth in the Ryman North – somewhere Cawley wants to stay.

“It’s tough at the moment with all the games we have to catch up on but we’re going okay,” he explained.

“We are looking at the play-offs – that’s one of the main reasons why I came to Sudbury, and we’d love to go up.”

Sudbury travel to rock-bottom Ware today looking to extend their unbeaten run to 17 league games, and in doing so maintain their current play-off position.