WEEKEND FOOTBALL ROUND-UP + IPSWICH HIGHLIGHTS: Draw extends AFC Sudbury’s positive away form
AFC Sudbury extended their unbeaten run of away form in the Ryman League Division One North to 12 matches thanks to a 1-1 draw against AFC Hornchurch, while there was also victories for Stowmarket Town and Mildenhall Town.
It was Craig Parker’s goal - his 26th for Sudbury this season - that broke the deadlock in the second half at Bridge Avenue.
Hosting Hornchurch soon restored parity and it was thanks to a string of saves from Sudbury goalkeeper Marcus Garnham that the spoils were shared.
The draw has left Jamie Godbold’s men 10 points clear at the top of the table with eight matches left to play.
Elsewhere, Soham Town Rangers were beaten 3-0 away at Thamesmead Town, while in the Premier Division Needham Market played out a 2-2 draw with Leatherhead.
Bury Town had been due to host Harlow Town, but the Ram Meadow pitch was deemed unplayable.
They are due in action this Wednesday (7.45pm) in the semi-final of the Suffolk Premier Cup against Lowestoft Town. You can follow live updates of the tie, which will be played at Needham Market’s Bloomfields ground, by visiting: www.buryfreepress.co.uk/sport/live-sport.
Norwich City’s recent woes in the Barclays Premier League continued at Swansea as Alex Neil’s side saw their winless reach 10 matches after Gylfi Sigurdsson’s tidy finish was enough to seal three points in South Wales.
The result leaves the Canaries one point from safety ahead of Manchester City’s visit to Carrow Road on Saturday in the early kick-off (12.45pm).
There was better news across the border for Ipswich Town fans as Mick McCarthy’s side ensured back-to-back victories to get their play-off push back on track, thanks to Ben Pringle’s second-half strike.
The midfielder, on an emergency 93-day loan from Fulham, made it two goals in two games and four since switching to Suffolk in the 63rd minute.
It leaves the Blues (9th) just a point off a top six place ahead of travelling to bottom side Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday (7.45pm)*.
In the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division. Mildenhall found themselves 2-1 down at the break away at Gorleston, yet went on to win the contest 5-2.
Chris Bacon, who recently returned to the club from Stamford, was among the goals with a brace.
In the First Division, Stowmarket ended a two-game losing run courtesy of a 1-0 triumph over Woodbridge Town.
The match-winner for Stow was centre-forward Matt Dixon.
*Read our fans’ views on both Ipswich Town and Norwich City in our print editions later this week, while extended highlights of Ipswich Town’s Saturday game can be viewed via a payment subscriber service on the club’s official website
FOOTBALL RESULTS
RYMAN LEAGUE
Premier Division: Leatherhead 2, Needham Market 2.
Division North: AFC Hornchurch 1, AFC Sudbury 1; Bury Town v Harlow Town pp; Thamesmead Town 3, Soham Town Rangers 0.
THURLOW NUNN LEAGUE
Premier Division: Godmanchester Rovers v Long Melford pp; Gorleston 2, Mildenhall Town 5; Hadleigh Utd 2, Fakenham Town 2; Walsham le Willows 5, Thetford Town 2 (Friday).
First Division: Stowmarket Town 1, Woodbridge Town 0; 2; Downham Town v Debenham LC; Halstead Town 5, Team Bury 2; Haverhill Borough v King’s Lynn Town; Needham Market v Ely City.
Suffolk Senior Cup: AFC Sudbury 1, Cornard Utd 2.
MIDWEEK FIXTURES
RYMAN LEAGUE
Tuesday. Suffolk County Cup Semi-Finals: Leiston v Needham Market; Bury Town v Lowestoft Town (Wednesday).
THURLOW NUNN LEAGUE
Premier Division: Tuesday. FC Clacton v Haverhill Rovers.
Friday (11). Long Melford v Halstead Utd.
First Division: Tuesday. Debenham LC v Diss Town; Team Bury v Wivenhoe Town.
KO Cup Tuesday: March Town United v Haverhill Borough; Stowmarket Town v Halstead Town.
