AFC Sudbury suffered only their second defeat of their last 24 league matches, at home to relegation-haunted Waltham Abbey this afternoon.

East Anglian Daily Times: Sudbury FC v Waltham Abbey FC. RymanLeague Division One North. Commotion between players on the pitch during the second half.Sudbury FC v Waltham Abbey FC. RymanLeague Division One North. Commotion between players on the pitch during the second half. (Image: Archant)

Although Sudbury are away and clear at the top of the Ryman Premier (12 points clear before kick-off), they were thoroughly outplayed in this match, and can have few complaints.

Waltham Abbey deservedly took the lead on the half-hour mark, when danger-man Christian Assombalonga, the younger brother of Britt (at Nottingham Forest), burst clear of the home defence.

Assombalonga charged free down the left before squaring for an unmarked Darelle Russell to sweep into an unguarded net.

It should have been 2-0 to the visitors, on 33 minutes, only for Assombalonga to smash his penalty onto the top of the bar, after Ross Bailey had felled Gavin Suddell in the box.

But Assombalonga made amends by slotting home Abbey’s second goal, from Russell’s lay-off, just 40 seconds into the second half.

Subdury’s misery was complete when centre-half Stefano Mallardo was sent off for a very late challenge on Ryan Flack, in the 78th minute.

SUBDURY: Garnham, Robinson, Cunningham (sub French, 51), Bailey (sub Clarke, 65), Henshaw, Mallardo, Blackwell, Newman (sub Berquez, 65), Callander, Parker, Wales. Unused subs: Dunlop, Maybanks.

Attendance: 382