Bury Town and AFC Sudbury draw, while Heybridge Swifts win again
Cemal Ramadan, who scored for Bury Town in the 1-1 draw against AFC Sudbury Picture: ANDY ABBOTT - Credit: Archant
Phil Kelly scored a late equaliser as AFC SUDBURY held hosts BURY TOWN to a draw in a west Suffolk derby at Ram Meadow tonight.
Luke Callander, left, who steered home a dramatic late winner for Heybridge Swifts at Bowers & Pitsea. Picture : RICHARD MARSHAM
With both sides nestling in mid-table in Bostik North, with neither promotion or relegation on the agenda, it was all about local pride.
Bury’s leading scorer, Cemal Ramadan, broke the deadlock in the 70th minute, in front of a crowd of 421, after home keeper Luis Tibbles had earlier made a fine save from Joe Whight’s penalty.
Ramadan diverted home Jake Lankester’s delivery to chalk up his 25th league goal of the season. But front-man Kelly rescued a point for Sudbury with an 86th minute equaliser, steering home from Callum Harrison’s cross.
BURY: Tibbles, Yallop, Robinson, Fenn, White, Clements, Aitkens (sub Kennedy, 84), Jolland, Ramadan, Hughes, Lankester.
AFC SUDBURY: Collins, Mills (sub McKenzie, 59), Coakley, French (sub Hunter, 73), Grimes, Whight, Holland, Harrison, Kelly, Peters, Dettmar.
Meanwhile, HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS effectively guaranteed a Bostik North play-off place with another marvellous win, this time at third-placed Bowers & Pitsea.
Most Read
- 1 Uproar as plans put in to turn Suffolk pub into vets
- 2 New farm shop and cafe opens in Suffolk countryside
- 3 Burglar jailed for break-in at Stowmarket dental practice
- 4 Further case of Omicron Covid variant detected in East Anglia
- 5 Parish council concerned about plans for new A14 service station
- 6 Friends speak of 'spiking' in market town and advise others: 'be careful'
- 7 Rail services affected after person hit by train
- 8 Stu says: Six observations following Papa John's Trophy exit to Arsenal U21s
- 9 Former Town defender McGreal returns to club in coaching role
- 10 Major west Suffolk road reopens after two vehicle crash
Juan Luque and Luke Callander bagged second-half goals to complete a fine comeback for Jody Brown’s men, against a Bowers side who would have moved into the second automatic promotion slot with a draw.
In front of a crowd of 198 at the Len Salmon Stadium, Bowers took the lead through Ben Sartain on 29 minutes.
But Luque netted on 64 minutes, and Callander then followed up with an 88th minute winner, volleying home from a free-kick routine, to extend the Swifts’ lead over seventh-placed Maldon & Tiptree to nine points, with just three matches remaining.
The Swifts also have a far superior goal difference, so to all intents and purposes have secured their play-off place.
HEYBRIDGE: Jessup, Ramon, Godbold (sub Cawley, 55), Abdulla (sub Eyong, 73), Henshaw, Baker, Chatting (sub Callander, 78), Krasniqi, Price, Gardner, Luque.
A late goal from Correy Davidson earned a 2-1 home win for in-form WITHAM TOWN over Brentwood Town.
Harry Gibbs put the visitors ahead, but Witham scored twice in the last quarter of the game. Jack Gardner’s own goal (76) was followed by Davidson’s injury-time winner.
NEEDHAM MARKET were well beaten 5-0 at Bostik Premier leaders Billericay.
