AFC Sudbury 0 Felixstowe & Walton United 1

East Anglian Daily Times: Felixstowe centre-half Daniel Davis recovers from a knock, on the floor, with keeper Jack Spurling looking on. Picture: CARL MARSTONFelixstowe centre-half Daniel Davis recovers from a knock, on the floor, with keeper Jack Spurling looking on. Picture: CARL MARSTON (Image: Archant)

Felixstowe & Walton United claimed victory in the Suffolk derby tonight, thanks to Armani Schaar's 62nd minute winner at AFC Sudbury.

The Seasiders bounced back from an opening day 4-1 home defeat at the hands of Great Wakering Rovers, to secure their first league points of the season as Schaar diverted home a low cross by Jordan Matthews.

It was a frustrating night for AFC Sudbury, who had also been beaten on the opening day, at Coggeshall Town. They certainly did enough to have earned a point tonight, only to let themselves down in front of goal.

Although the first half was goalless, there were numerous chances for both sides. Both keepers were busy, although too often the final shot was aimed straight at them.

East Anglian Daily Times: AFC Sudbury's Joe Whight curls this free-kick narrowly wide of target, as the hosts threaten against Felixstowe & Walton. The keeper is Jack Spurling. Picture: CARL MARSTONAFC Sudbury's Joe Whight curls this free-kick narrowly wide of target, as the hosts threaten against Felixstowe & Walton. The keeper is Jack Spurling. Picture: CARL MARSTON (Image: Archant)

Sudbury had the better chances, but they were indebted to their keeper Paul Walker for a fine save in the 14th minute. Walker superbly turned away a header by Miles Powell from close in.

Otherwise, the hosts forced the pace. Freddie King powered behind the Seasiders' back-line and crashed in a fierce shot that was parried by Jack Spurling on 16 minutes. Spurling also blocked at the feet of Tom Dettmar.

Mark Morsley's side almost broke the deadlock from a set piece, on the half-hour mark. Daniel Davis fouled Sean Marks, 20 yards from goal, and the ensuing free-kick by Joe Whight swerved a foot wide of the post.

Whight was then denied by a finger-tip save from Spurling, on 32 minutes. The Seasiders keeper arched back to divert Whight's 25-yarder over the bar.

Into the second half and Ben Hunter headed wide from close-in, but it was the Seasiders who took the lead, just after the hour mark, Schaar diverting home Matthews' low cross from six yards out.

Sudbury searched for an equaliser and Spurling only just managed to keep out a swirling cross-cum-shot by Liam Bennett, in front of his far upright.

Spurling protected the lead with a marvellous save to thwart Harris in the 85th minute, tipping the ball over his bar from a thunderous long-range effort.

Substitute Tom Maycock and Marks both peppered the target in stoppage time, but it was a night of near misses for Sudbury.

East Anglian Daily Times: Felixstowe & Walton's Armani Schaar celebrates after scoring the winner at AFC Sudbury. Picture: THOMAS BRADFORDFelixstowe & Walton's Armani Schaar celebrates after scoring the winner at AFC Sudbury. Picture: THOMAS BRADFORD (Image: Archant)

Squads

AFC SUDBURY: Walker, L Bennett, Critchley (sub Maycock, 71), Altintop, Bailey-Dennis, Whight, Hunter, Dettmar, Marks, Harris, King (sub Mundawarara, 65).

FELIXSTOWE & WALTON: Spurling, C Bennett, Barley (sub Hanson, 89), Kerridge, Ainsley, Davis, Skubich (sub Bloomfield, 75), Powell, Debenham, Matthews, Schaar.

East Anglian Daily Times: Felixstowe & Walton United's Armani Scchaar celebrate scoring the winner at AFc Sudbury. Picture: THOMAS BRADFORD.Felixstowe & Walton United's Armani Scchaar celebrate scoring the winner at AFc Sudbury. Picture: THOMAS BRADFORD. (Image: Archant)

Attendance: 262

On a busy night of non-league action, BURY TOWN and WITHAM TOWN maintained their unbeaten starts to the Isthmian League North season with a 1-1 draw at Spa Road.

The two goals arrived in quick succession. Witham, who had won 3-0 at Hulbridge Sports on Saturday, broke the deadlock through Marcus Bowers on the half-hour mark.

East Anglian Daily Times: Felixstowe & Walton United's Jack Spurling pulls off one of his many saves, against AFC Sudbury. Picture: THOMAS BRADFORDFelixstowe & Walton United's Jack Spurling pulls off one of his many saves, against AFC Sudbury. Picture: THOMAS BRADFORD (Image: Archant)

But Bury, 3-1 winners over Basildon United on the opening day, equalised just 60 seconds later through Jake Chambers-Shaw to earn a point in front of a crowd of 127 in North-Essex.

Elsewhere in Isthmian League North, the local derby between HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS and COGGESHALL TOWN ended in a 1-1 draw at Scraley Road, in front of a bumper attendance of 312.

The Swifts got their noses in front, thanks to a wonderful 25-yard free-kick by Jack Adlington-Pile in the 38th minute. However, the Seed Growers created many chances in the second period, having equalised on 47 minutes via Nnamdi Nwachuku's precise penalty after McLeod had been fouled.

The hosts hit the post in stoppage time through Gyasi, but Heybridge held on.

MALDON & TRIPTREE made it two wins out of two, with a 2-1 success at Brentwood Town. The home side were reduced to 10 men after only 10 minutes, due to Jack Edwards' red card, and Charlee Hughes put the Jammers 1-0 up on 22 minutes.

Jason Williams levelled for Brentwood just seven minutes later, and it looked as though the Jammers would have to be content with a point until Danny Parish obliged with a 90th minute winner.

Meanwhile, in the Thurlow League Premier, WHITTON UNITED earned their first points of the season with an excellent 2-0 win away at BRANTHAM ATHLETIC.

Zehnn Young was the star performer, netting a brace of goals on 27 and 77 minutes.

HADLEIGH UNITED also picked up a first point of the campaign, with a 1-1 draw at FC CLACTON. Joe Heron put the Essex hosts ahead (18mins) and Hadleigh were reduced to 10 men by Darcy D'eath's 59th minute red card. However, Josh Cheetham equalised with a great strike in the 88th minute.