WEEKEND FOOTBALL ROUND-UP + IPSWICH HIGHLIGHTS: Sudbury close in on league title
AFC Sudbury moved a step closer to securing the Ryman League Division One North title thanks to a 1-0 win away at Aveley on Saturday, while there was also victories for Needham Market, Mildenhall Town and Diss Town.
The result has left Jamie Godbold’s league leaders 12 points clear of second-placed Thurrock with six matches left to play.
Elsewhere, Soham Town Rangers picked up a 4-2 win at home against Romford, while Bury Town’s winless run of form extended to eight matches courtesy of their 1-1 home draw with Thamesmead Town.
In the Premier Division, Needham Market boosted their survival chances thanks to a 2-0 triumph away at Harrow Borough.
Ollie Mann opened the scoring for Needham in the 42nd minute, before left-back Daryl Coakley made sure of the outcome in the second half.
Meanwhile, in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division, Mildenhall Town prepared for their upcoming League Cup semi-final against Godmanchester Rovers on Tuesday (7.45pm) with a 6-0 home win over Gorleston.
Dean Greygoose’s side were four goals to the good at the break, with two further goals following after the restart.
There was not such positive news for Long Melford, Haverhill Rovers, Walsham-le-Willows and Thetford Town, though, as they were defeated by Kirkley & Pakefield, Felixstowe & Walton United, Whitton United and Godmanchester respectively.
As for Hadleigh United, they were held to a 1-1 draw by Ipswich Wanderers.
In the First Division, there were wins for Ely City and Diss Town, while Cornard United and Stowmarket Town played out a 0-0 draw.
However, AFC Sudbury Reserves slipped to a 4-1 defeat at the hands of King’s Lynn Town Reserves.
In the Barclays Premier League. Norwich City moved out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win away at West Bromwich Albion.
Republic of Ireland international Robbie Brady did the damage for the Canaries with a goal shortly after the restart.
As for Ipswich Town, their promotion hopes took a hit as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat at home to relegation-threatened Rotherham United.
The Tractor Boys are now four points adrift of the play-off places.
*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: Harrow Borough 0, Needham Market 2.
Division North: Aveley 0, AFC Sudbury 1; Bury Town 1, Thamesmead Town 1; Soham Town Rangers 4, Romford 2.
THURLOW NUNN LEAGUE
Premier Division: Hadleigh Utd 1, Ipswich Wanderers 1; Haverhill Rovers 0, Felixstowe & Walton Utd 3; Kirkley & Pakefield 5, Long Melford 0; Mildenhall Town 0, Gorleston 0; Newmarket Town 1, Swaffham Town 0; Thetford Town 0, Godmanchester Rovers 4; Whitton Utd 4, Walsham le Willows 2.
First Division: Cornard Utd 0, Stowmarket Town 0; Debenham LC 0, Ely City 3; Dereham Town 0, Diss Town 3; King’s Lynn Town 4, AFC Sudbury Res 1; March Town Utd 1, Haverhill Borough 1.
MIDWEEK FIXTURES
RYMAN LEAGUE
Monday
Division North: Aveley v Soham Town Rangers.
Tuesday
Suffolk Cup Semi-Finals: Bury Town v Lowestoft Town (at Needham Market).
THURLOW NUNN LEAGUE
Tuesday
Premier Division: Newmarket Town v FC Clacton.
League Cup Semi-Final: Mildenhall Town v Godmanchester Rovers.
First Division: Debenham LC v Dereham Town; March Town Utd v Needham Market Res; Team Bury v AFC Sudbury Res.
Friday (1).
Premier Division: FC Clacton v Hadleigh Utd; Haverhill Rovers v Newmarket Town.
First Division: Halstead Town v AFC Sudbury.
