AFC Sudbury 3-1 Billericay Town
By Mia Kipling
Build-up
We're in the first round of the group stages in the FAWNL Cup with a midweek match-up between Billericay Town and AFC Sudbury.
Starting Line-ups
AFC Sudbury: Brunning, Smith, Jeffery, Bezant, Rogers, Slater, Edwards, Goodwin, Allen, Morton, Abrehart
Billericay Town: Mackler, Windsor, Lambe, Birkett, Heath, Evans, Hart, Kadlec, Smith, Lempek, Chambers
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The Action
Erika Lempek kicks off the first half of the FAWNL Cup's first group stage game.
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Sudbury nearly found an opener with a shot from just outside the box, but our goalkeeper, Emily Mackler, got a hand to it, deflecting the ball onto the woodwork.
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Billericay gained a corner, which was crossed into the middle of the box, but unfortunately, nothing came of it.
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We were awarded a free-kick after T'yana Nee-Chambers was brought down outside the box. The ball was crossed into the box onto Aliyat Lambe's head; despite being in an offside position, Amy Brunning got a hand to it and knocked it wide.
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Sudbury scored the opener in the 12th minute through their captain, Leonnie Bezant. A corner was delivered to the back post, and Bezant managed to get a head on it and slip it past Emily Mackler.
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Billericay gained an equaliser through number 10, T'yana Nee-Chambers, in the 16th minute. The ball was crossed towards her, and her shot flew past the Yellows' keeper straight into the bottom corner of the net.
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Sudbury then regained the advantage from a penalty taken by Amy-Leigh Abrehart, which was slotted past Mackler despite her incredible attempt to deny the Yellows.
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Sudbury managed to double their advantage through number 10, Georgie Morton, after her shot slipped past Mackler and into the back of the net.
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The Ricay were awarded a free-kick after Abbi Smith was brought down outside the box, but unfortunately, no one managed to get a head on it, and a goal kick was given to Sudbury.
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Half-Time: AFC Sudbury 3-1 Billericay Town
AFC Sudbury's number 7 kicks off the second half of the FAWNL clash.
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The second half was slow, with incredible defensive play from Billericay.
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Billericay gained a corner after a shot was deflected away; the ball was shot into the centre of the goal, but unfortunately, Sudbury's keeper managed to get a glove on it and knock it away.
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The ball went out for a Billericay throw-in, taken by Gracie Hickman, onto Nee-Chambers's foot, but her pass was intercepted.
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Aliyat Lambe sustained an unfortunate knee injury, which resulted in Billericay playing the last minutes with 10 players.
Sudbury nearly gained a late chance through a gap in our midfield, but our defensive tactical formation helped to keep them out of the box.
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Full-Time: AFC Sudbury 3-1 Billericay Town
The game ended in an unfortunate 3-1 loss for the Blues, with an incredible goal from T'yana Nee-Chambers. Unfortunately, we failed to convert any more chances, leading to a tough loss. Billericay became a lot more defensive after coming out for the second half, which resulted in Sudbury failing to gain more of an advantage over us.
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It was a tough game, but it's onwards and upwards from here with our first league home game against Gwalia United, hoping to gain the three points to propel us into our away game to Plymouth at the end of the month.
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