Bostik League North AFC Sudbury 1 Dereham Town 4 A devastating start from Dereham proved decisive as the visitors from Norfolk blew struggling Sudbury away with three goals in the opening quarter of an hour to set up a convincing victory.

In fact, the damage could have been worse during that period but for AFC’s debutant keeper Curtis Child, who saved a penalty and also brilliantly denied Ryan Crisp.

Dereham were awarded their spot kick as early as the fourth minute when home skipper Joe Whight brought down Crisp, only for Child to go down well to his right and push away Danny Beaumont’s effort. However, respite was brief and the Magpies opened the scoring on their next attack as the pacy Rhys Logan burst down the right before driving in a cross-shot which was deflected past Child. Beaumont soon made it 2-0, running onto a flick header from Crisp and driving low into the corner.

Crisp then steamrollered through the home defence only for Child to somehow push his powerful strike round the post. Logan was finding acres of space down the right, as Sudbury’s back line continued to be exposed, and Crisp played him in again to convert his second goal of the game and Dereham’s third with an angled drive.

As the half wore on Sudbury began to get a foothold in the game and new signing Ryan Horne had a goal chalked off for offside before Reece Dodson drove into the side-netting and then had a fierce drive blocked by the visiting goalkeeper.

The hosts pulled a goal back just after the restart as Mekhi McKenzie set up Ben Hunter, who produced an inch-perfect curler into the top corner from the edge of the area. However, Dereham almost immediately won a corner and Logan’s flag kick eventually reached Ollie Ebbage who converted from just outside the six-yard box.

Sudbury held their own for the remainder of the game and both Tyler French and the impressive Hunter went close to finding the net.

However, the damage had been done as Sudbury slip to 17th in the table and are winless in seven while the visitors strengthened their play-off ambitions.

Next up for Sudbury is a trip to Mildenhall Town on Boxing Day, where they face the side directly below them.

AFC SUDBURY 1 DEREHAM TOWN 4 BOSTICK LEAGUE NORTH