AFC Sudbury 7-1 Long Eaton United

Goals from Josh Allen and Jamie Hanson meant the two sides went in at the break level.

However, Malachi Napa secured a brace, and Josh Allen netted his second, whilst Simeon Jackson, Jacob Pinnington and Callum Page all netted goals of their own in the second half to secure a comfortable victory for Sudbury.

Brad Munn opted to make three changes to the side that fell to defeat against AFC Telford United last weekend – Owen Betts and Luke Martin returned in defence, whilst Nathan Tyson began ahead of Jack Rogers in attack.

With just seven minutes on the clock, Tyson believed he had etched the Blues ahead with a diving header after Ryan Campbell-Gordon’s half volley was saved and palmed straight to the forward to net the rebound, although the linesman pulled play back for an offside decision.

Moments later, Hanson’s delicate volley flew towards goal after Cieron Keane’s cross was cleared to the edge of the box, but this time a defensive Sudbury head cleared the ball off the line to keep the score goal less.

Ross Durrant was then called into action in the 29th minute to deny Cawley a goal with a superb diving save as the ball was heading low towards the far post.

Although, just four minutes later, Allen got the better of Durrant with a low driven finish once again towards the far post, that bounced in off the inside of the post and gave Sudbury the lead.

With half time beckoning, United managed to net an equaliser through Hanson. The powerhouse midfielder thumped a rebound half volley after a cleared Keane corner straight down the keeper's' throat and into the back of the net.

It was honours even at the break, but Sudbury were quick to regain their lead early in the second half – just one minute after the restart, Napa tapped home a delicate finish from close range to secure his first of the match.

Jackson then made it three just six minutes later, after Pinnington’s venomous strike was redirected by the foot of the forward to wrong foot Durrant and give Sudbury a two-goal advantage.

That advantage soon turned into three as a magnificent run and whipped Napa strike made it four for the hosts in the afternoon.

Then, with 60 minutes on the clock, Allen brought down a long ball and with composure simply slotted the ball into the bottom right and past the diving Durrant from close.

United thereafter managed 24 minutes of goalless football, but it was Pinnington in the 84th minute that ended that and made it six for Sudbury via a thumping strike across goal and into the back of the net from just inside the box.

Finally, in second half stoppage time, Page managed to secure a goal of his own – a curled strike from inside the box – to hand the Blues their biggest defeat of the 2023/24 season.