Match Report | AFC Sudbury (H)
Halesowen claim a spot in the top 5 on goal difference thanks to a 5-0 win, and Banbury United’s 2-0 victory at Needham Market
Match Report
The Yeltz opened the scoring inside the opening 10 minutes, through somewhat scrappy circumstances. A Milan Butterfield dink forward, saw Jason Cowley and Suds keeper Jack Munson race to the ball. The latter got their first, but the loose ball fell to Jordan Ponticelli, who crossed to the back post where Fin Holmes headed into an open net.
The second goal arrived on 24 minutes, and thoroughly deserved it was too. Would you believe it, just the third time in our 21 league games at home that we had scored twice in the first half. Rob Evans hit a ball long, Ollie Okeh missed his header, as the ball fell to Holmes. The latter beat Sam Cox for pace, and squared across the box for Ponticelli to tap in from close range.
The third goal came four minutes after the restart for the second half, and a rarity for the Yeltz. The first time an opponent has put the ball in their own net this season, as a Holmes cross was diverted in by the unlucky Ellis Lawson. The fourth and fifth goals arrived on the 57th & 67th minutes. The former from Cowley rounding Munson, and smashing the ball into an open net. The latter from a Hickman shot, fumbled in by Munson.
The Yeltz very quickly showed why the game started as the 3rd best attack in the league, against the worst defense in the division. The Fin Holmes goal was our first shot of the afternoon, but the chances soon came, and quickly. A minute after the opener, Jordan Ponticelli saw an effort saved by 19 year old Jack Munson.
Just after the 10th minute, two chances came in as many minutes. A pass from Ponticelli found Jason Cowley in the corner down the right, who whipped a cross into Jak Hickman in the middle. The fullback failed get a clean header on the ball in the middle. A minute later, Holmes chopped onto his right, but curled an effort over the bar.
It was Holmes’ first start since Good Friday, and my word what a display. A goal and two assists, but aside from that he was still flawless. Just after the quarter hour mark, our number 19 went close once again, as the ball fell out to him down the left, after Cowley glided through the middle. Holmes found Mitch Roberts on the overlap, who returned the ball to the former, who hit the ball over the bar.
The chances kept coming before half-time, and none came the way of the visitors. Inside the 10 minutes after the half hour mark, Hickman hit the ball past the left post and Ponticelli who mishit well wide. In the five minutes leading up to a dull stoppage time, Munson gave the ball straight to Cowley yards out from goal, who tried to go around the keeper, but Munson grabbed hold of the ball. The Suds shotstopper was there once again, as he pulled off a brilliant save on the cusp of stoppage time to once again deny Cowley.
The Yeltz goal just after the break settled down some nerves and any chance of a Sudbury comeback, even if the Suds did come out showing more fight at the start of the second 45. In the aftermath of the third, a Cowley shot looped into the gloves of Munson, before substitute Kyle Finn, who replaced captain Josh Smile at half-time, drifted a shot wide.
A rare opportunity fell to the Suds way just after the hour mark, as first half sub Skye Salmon smashed an effort wide. The subs continued to make a mark on the game for the Yeltz, just describing the incredible depth we have in the squad. On 71 minutes, Finn found Holmes down the left, who went into the box and curled his effort wide Three minutes later, sub Ty Barnett found Holmes on the left of the area, who had a shot saved.
On 79 minutes, another sub, AJ George, won a penalty after being found by Hickman and brought down in the area by Munson. Unfortunately saved by the latter to his right. The Yeltz number 20, making his first appearance since February, very nearly got the goal he deserved, as on 88 minutes, he was found in the area, but there was Munson again to deny the Yeltz a sixth.
The Yeltz wouldn’t be where they are without Banbury’s 2-0 win at Needham, securing our play-off spot on goal difference. Russ Penn noted in his post match interview that “goal difference acts like another point”, and he certainly isn’t wrong. A trip to Spalding United awaits on Wednesday night (29th April), not our favourite ground by any means, but for a good omen, the Yeltz won promoted via the play-offs against The Tulips on the 29th April 2023.
Attendance: 1,873
Teams
Yeltz XI: Dan Platt (GK), Jak Hickman (Jim Kellermann 87’), Josh Smile (C) (Kyle FInn 46’), Ryan Wollacott, Mitch Roberts (Reece Mitchell 63’), Todd Parker, Jason Cowley (AJ George 75’), Milan Butterfield, Jordan Ponticelli (Ty Barnett 72’), Rob Evans, Fin Holmes
Unused Subs: None
Sudbury XI: Jack Munson (GK), Charlie Lewis, Jake Turner (Reon Smith-Kouassi 63’), Charlie George, Ellis Lawson, Jack Stone, Liam Pearce, Ollie Okeh (Skye Salmon 31’), Tommy Dettmar (Archie Jolland 56’), Sam Cox (Rocco Leeks 56’), Kaidon Tower-King
Unused Subs: Rhys Rowley (GK)