AFC Sudbury 0 Hendon 4

East Anglian Daily Times: Sudbury's Tyler French in action against HendonSudbury's Tyler French in action against Hendon (Image: Richard Marsham - RMG Photography Tel - 07798 758711)

This was a game that would surely need to be won by AFC if they were to stand a chance of avoiding relegation from the Ryman Premier League, having only gained promotion to it at the end of last season.

However, this result was certainly not the one they wanted, going down to a side one place above them and being comprehensively beaten to boot.

The four-goal margin certainly did not flatter the London side that were more eager, slicker, and looked by far the better side.

AFC had to cope without their suspended captain Sam Clarke and also defender Ryan Henshaw, meaning James Baker played in central defence.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ace Howell on the ballAce Howell on the ball (Image: Richard Marsham - RMG Photography Tel - 07798 758711)

Tyler French also received two yellows and a red, as the home side ended the game with 10 men.

It was he who lost the lively Kezie Ibe on the edge of the area and the Hendon man slid the ball under Marcus Garnham for the opener. This came after both Sam Bantick and Ace Howell had forced Tom Lovelock in the visitor’s to make telling saves.

Hendon produced a second goal just after the half-hour mark. Adam Tann committed a foul some 25 yards out and from the free kick Matt Ball cured the ball over the wall and into the top corner.

The AFC management made two changes at the break with the experienced Rob Eagle and Joe Marsden coming on, the latter having an early shot saved by Lovelock.

East Anglian Daily Times: Sam Corcoran in action for Sudbury on Saturday. The Suffolk side lost 0-4 at home to HendonSam Corcoran in action for Sudbury on Saturday. The Suffolk side lost 0-4 at home to Hendon (Image: Richard Marsham - RMG Photography Tel - 07798 758711)

However just 15 minutes later two more goals had been conceded, another mistake, this time Tann lost his man, Marcel Barrington and he set up Keegan Cole to score. Just past the hour mark the fourth went in as Ibe beat the offside trap and coolly rounded Garnham.

AFC’s first real chance to pull a goal back came when Danny Crow hit a fierce shot that rebounded back off the post and from eight yards out Marsden headed over the crossbar.

French having been booked for an earlier trip was again found guilty and second yellow saw him sent off as AFC played out the final 12 minutes with just 10 men.

The final whistle went and it was a crushing blow to the south Suffolk side’s hopes of staying up in the Ryman Premier League.

A good crowd was again in evidence, with more than 330 at the Wardale Williams Stadium.