AFC Sudbury 4–3 Bowers & Pitsea

(Booth 12’, Dobson 30’, Hunter 33’, 45’: Knight 50’ (p), Sartain 66’, Nyanja 70’)

From The Wardale Williams Stadium

Isthmian North

BOWERS & Pitsea left their fightback a little too late in a thrilling game of two halves at AFC Sudbury.

Bowers trailed 4-0 at the break but rallied to 4-3, only to fail to get an equaliser.

On form Bowers took the early initiative and they created the first opening. Fahad Nyanja fired a fine cross into the danger zone and Lewis Manor sent a header narrowly over the crossbar.

But after David Knight had fired a low free-kick straight at Sudbury goalkeeper Paul Walker, the hosts forged ahead.

Max Booth blasted beyond stopper Callum Chafer on 12 minutes to deny him a third straight clean sheet.

Nyanja was proving difficult to handle, and his effort was touched wide before the Suffolk team stretched their advantage.

Reece Dobson fired high into the goal and two became three when Ben Hunter slid the ball into the corner.

And Hunter completed a memorable first half when he struck in off the post on the stroke of half-time.

Bowers needed to restore some pride in the second half and they almost pulled one back after just two minutes.

A Nyanja cross was met by Manor but his header came back off the crossbar.

However, they did have a goal to show for their efforts on 50 minutes. A penalty was awarded and Knight made no mistake.

And when the deficit was halved on 66 minutes, the visiting fans began to hope. Lewis, Nyanja and James Thomas were involved before Ben Sartain applied the finish.

Sartain then played provider, laying the ball on a plate for Nyanja to make it 4-3 with 20 minutes still to play.

Jamie Salmon volleyed over a Bowers hunted for the leveller, but they were to head back to Essex pointless.

Bowers & Pitsea: Chafer, Clark, Thomas, M. Stokes, Nyanja, Sartain, Boswell, (Adeniji 90’) Pinto, Knight, Manor, Dicks (T. Stokes 83’)