‘Win Away from home, score four and yet management want more’
Management duo of Tommo & Fowler took their troops on the road to deepest Suffolk for their second league fixture of the campaign. The team were to be greeted by some fine facilities, one of the biggest pitches likely to tread and an aesthetically pleasing gallery of Sudbury ‘WAGS’, very pleasing to the eye. Weather conditions were warm, bright and a slight breeze.
Unavailability and injuries forced Tommo & Fowler to shuffle their pack. Thanks to more quality in depth in the Boxted squad this season, players called in seemed up for the task. ‘Taff’ starting between the sticks in front of him the classy Ford, Hansen like Gray and powerhouse Millgate. Wingbacks and new signing Clarke and wing wizard Trueman, supporting the midfield three of legend Osborne, athletic McCarthy and starlet macklin. Front two power pairing of club captain Hume and the rejuvenated Dowde. A strong bench were made available in Richards, Spencer-Campbell, Andy Driver, Hart and Moon.
Boxted were playing in their red strip and the hosts in blue and black.
The first real action began with a free kick awarded to the visitors about 25 yards to the left hand side of the box. Osborne took responsibility and hit the ball sweetly crashing into the net past the hapless keeper. A wonderful goal for a new pair or Italian boots.
Sudbury 0 – Boxted 1.
The homes side response was a flurry of shots from long range which hardly tested the experienced Taff. Sudbury continued to press and was awarded a free kick on Boxted’s penalty box. And again Taff was equal to the shot. Sudbury remained in the ascendancy and their captain (and huge) Gardiner finished a phase of play with a miss kick which was gathered by Taff. Hume was to have a gigantic battle with Gardiner and was beginning to win his fare share in the air, to the amazement of Gardiner but not Boxted. Trueman then showed his defensive qualities by snuffing out an attack down the right, Macklin was offering a lot of industry in the centre of midfield and Gray and Millgate were showing early signs of good communication. Dowde was chasing down half chances and in doing so keeping the pressure well and truly on the hosts. As the game progresses both Ford and Gray looked more and more comfortable at the back, until a lack of focus meant they were unable to deal with a bouncing ball but Millgate was on hand to rescue.
Hosts were then awarded a free kick, which was delivered into Gardiner, who was allowed a free header put placed it wide of Taffs goal. The confidence of Ford and Gray was rubbing off (am I allowed to say that?) on Millgate as he
‘Nutmegged’ Sudbury’s ‘Lillie’. Nice.
Good work from Dowde on the right delivered a right foot cross to Hume, but Gardiner won this battle and cleared. Dowde was then showing many of his skills and was able to nutmeg ‘Ambrose’ on the turn with a little Glint in the Boxted legends eye. Osborne (or is it ‘Archer’) was beginning to ‘Boss’ the midfield and this industry brought Ford forward. Ford picked up the ball, opened up his body once and then a second time, beating two players and struck a sweet ball from 20 yards in the top right hand corner. Lovely.
Sudbury 0 – Boxted 2.
Ford then returned to his defensive duties and snuffed out the next Sudbury attack.
The half time whistle blew. All Boxted substitutes were told to warm up as Tommo & Fowler took the guys into the dressing rooms. As the two teams remerged, Tommo informed the press box that he was reasonably happy with how Boxted were dictating the tempo, but loosing balls in phases. Tommo told the boys to keep their heads and give a big 45 minutes.
As the second half started, the hosts were on top and Boxted were ‘not at the races’. Macklin was out muscled in midfield and McMahon struck a powerful shot, Taff was able to get two hands to it but was not able to prevent Sudbury’s opener.
Sudbury 1 – Boxted 2.
Milgate was called upon to snuff out the next attack, deflecting a goal bound shot wide. Boxted then sparked into life and Osborne floated a cross onto Hume’s right foot, but ‘Skip’ was unable to get enough purchase and the shot went wide. Macklin then upped his game and unleashed a shot which forced the keeper to concede a corner. Sudbury’s response was through McMahon who beat the challenges of Trueman and then Osborne and then crossed to Long who connected but shot wide.
This spurred a positive and instant response from Boxted as ‘Taff’ rolled the ball to Gray who carried the ball wide and released Clarke on a run into the Sudbury half. Clarke then looked up and delivered a pin point cross to Dowde on the far post who volleyed home from six yards. You Beauty.
Sudbury 1 – Boxted 3.
Sudbury would not lie down and came back strongly as Evers crossed to Gardiner but again went wide. Another phase of loose play was overturned by the hosts and long despatched a shot from 18 yards and scored.
Sudbury 2 – Boxted 3.
Tommo then made his first change replacing Dowde with the pacey Moon, who soon scored from a Trueman cross but amazingly the official disallowed. Boxted then forced a corner delivered by Osborne, Hume headed to Macklin who released Trueman and shot just wide. Further Boxted changes were made with Clarke and Truman making way for Driver and Spencer-Campbell. Boxted were finishing the game the stronger and a poor back pass eluded both goalkeeper and defender ending up with a Hume header that was blocked but struck the rebound in the goal.
Sudbury 2 – Boxted 4.
This was to be the last action of the match.
Assistant manager Fowler was first to speak to the waiting press and stated that he informed the troops he was not entirely satisfied with this performance and more work was to be done.
Notable performers to mention were the strong performance of Millgate, never say die attitude of Dowde, positive influence of Clarke and all four goal scorers. The star man though was McCarthy who gave his all, protecting the back three, linking the front pair and engaging in a ‘monster’ battle with Sudbury’s danger man McMahon.
The Chair.
