Bostik North Soham Town Rangers 0 AFC Sudbury 2 AFC Sudbury travelled to Soham Town Rangers on Saturday and sealed all three points with two early first half goals and a solid performance, writes Darren Theobald.

Sudbury’s squad had a few absentees with Joe Whight and Tom Monk missing along with the suspended Phil Kelly. Paul Hayes had the captain’s armband again.

The match started, on a wet and windy day, with AFC trying to pass the ball through the Soham defense, but Soham managed to keep them at bay. On 11 minutes a Sudbury free kick just outside the penalty area was put just wide by Billy Holland, and this spurred on the visitors who then took the lead on 15 minutes.

Hayes collected the ball on the right and, instead of crossing, he half-volleyed the ball straight into the net, the ball flying in off the post, a top class goal which gave the Soham keeper no chance.

It was all Sudbury now and just four minutes later they doubled their lead with the young Liam Bennett side-footing the ball in from a Hayes cross for 2-0.

It was Reece Harris who was next to come close for the visitors, but his touch failed at a crucial time and the on-rushing home keeper managed to nick the ball from him.

It was one way traffic now with Holland next to trouble the keeper after numerous passes from Sudbury. Then, on the stroke of half-time, Hayes hooked an effort just over the bar.

With the second half underway it was again the visitors who looked the more likely to score, Holland and Hayes having efforts go close.

A few substitutions then followed by Soham and they did change the flow of the match, but Paul Walker in the Sudbury goal – who had been quiet for 70 minutes – was able to stop all efforts by Soham.

With the match drawing to an end Erkan Okay saw a red card for a late challenge on Sudbury’s Tom Dettmar.

The final whistle blew and the travelling fans awarded Hayes their man of the match, with the very impressive Bennett a very close second.

AFC Sudbury are back at The Mel Group Stadium on Saturday when Dereham Town will visit.