Bramford travelled west to Cornard to face an out of form AFC Sudbury in the 1st round of the Open Cup.
Jake Rudge returned to the side, whilst Mark Pike made his first competetive start for Bramford on the Left hand side of midfield. Gus started at right back whilst Grant moved to Left for the missing Alex Wall.
Bramford started playing up the slope and against the wind which made it hard to get the ball over the top for Josh to run on to. So passing from the back was the best way to play. Tom attepted some long clearances but the wind was just too strong for the ball to travell any distance.
Chances from Mark, Will, Josh and George all went begging either miss timed or horribly wide shots, Sudbury keeper was made to work a few times as the Bramford attack had a few good opportunities. James K beat the keeper to the ball as he rushed out but his shot which looked like it might end up in, caught the wind and flew off for a throw in.
The deadlock was finally broken when James R played a through ball to George who took the ball away from the keeper and shot into the middle of the net to make it 1-0.
Bramford had more chances to punish a lackluster Sudbury team, including James R shot which he did well to get into a shooting position but the was badly shot wide of the target when he had a chance to cross the ball, he knew had done the wrong thing when he then jumped onto the floor in frustration.
Sudbury won a free kick which was floated in and found the Sudbury skipper un marked to shoot home, only for Joel to save it with his foot before Rudgie takling him before shooting wide.
Sudbury again got behind the Bramford back 4 but Joel was on hand again with a smart camera save to push round the post.
After half time, the game became even more scrappier than the first half. The ball was quite often lost or given away in the middle of the pitch before either side could build an attack, Sudbury managed to have 3 shots in the second half 2 going horribly wide and the other a 1 on 1 with Joel which the forward bottled and hit it straight at him.
Tom and Rudgie made some good last ditch tackles before the Sudbury attack could reach the goal, and Grant and Gus continued to want the ball out wide to continue the pass from the back style of play.
James K took control of a Tom free kick flicked over the defender and then another defender before vollying wide of the target.
George had a shot blazed over the bar and James R had a couple of headers held by the Sudbury keeper.
Josh's non stop running paid little in return as he tryed dropping deep to get the ball, but nothing really went Bramfords way, but a win is a win and they held on for the Victory.
Bramford will face either Witnesham Wasps or Stowmarket Town FC (game to played in mid January) in the Quarter Final of the Open Cup.
