The likes of Russell Pond, Chris Bryan, Michael Shinn and Dave Wareham have been on the books at Swifts and were all in the squad for Afc Sudbury on Saturday. Heavy rain didn't throw the game in doubt due to heavy investment by the hosts in their pitch in recent times.


Sudbury were first on the attack when Chris Bryan took on Chris Moore, winning a free kick which Swifts keeper Ashley Harrison punched clear from a Jamie Griffiths cross.


Heybridge grabbed an opening goal in a fine move on 16 minutes as Luke Callander deep in the Sudbury half saw a gap, slipped the ball through to Tom Holdstock who showed great composure to tuck the ball home from 14 yards despite the keeper Danny Gay getting a hand to the shot. It was the first senior goal for Holdstock for Heybridge Swifts who broke into the first team four months ago.


Although Sudbury had decent possession it did look like there was something missing as Heybridge strode forward seven minutes later with Callander evading a tackle from Sam Clarke in midfield to stride forward and strike a shot inches wide.


Sudbury sent over a decent cross on 25 minutes from Ashley Sloots from the right with James Baker knocking down a cushioned header, proving a comfortable save for Harrison.


Heybridge turned Sudbury topsy turvy on 34 minutes in the move of the month if not the season as Dan Foakes chipped the ball out to the left for Solomon Ofori who took off on the wing passing Ryan Henshaw before jinxing past Adam Dalby as Ofori closed in on the nearpost and then cutting the ball back to the edge of the six yard box for Luke Callander to side foot home with ease.


Heybridge keeper Ashley Harrison pulled off a save eight minutes before the break from Sam Clarke from the right side of the area before Sudbury did hit the back of the net meaning game on. Ashley Cole under pressure from Griffiths didn't clear for the visitors, allowing Chris Bryan to blast home for the Suffolk side from 18 yards to reduce the arrears.


Sudbury almost levelled on the stroke of 45 minutes as Michael Shinn sent over a cross picking out James Baker who slipped past Broadhurst before firing inches wide.


Many expected the match to enter the break with just a goal in it but Heybridge had other ideas in stoppage time as Ofori and Foakes linked up again with Ofori bursting through on the left again tearing through Jamie Griffiths and then attempting to bypass Henshaw again only to be tripped. Luke Callander stepped up for the resulting penalty but he has history with the now Sudbury keeper Danny Gay who dived in the centre of the goal to save, the rebound was kind to Callander as he steadied himself to blast the ball under the bar for a 3-1 half time lead.


HALF TIME: AFC SUDBURY 1-3 HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS


Sudbury had two penalty shouts turned down early in the second half when the ball raised up on Swifts' Stuart Fergus from Jamie Griffiths and Chris Bryan but to no avail.


Swifts' very own Ashley Cole was the provider for a superb Tom Broadhurst shot just after the hour as Danny Gay pushed away a a drive at full stretch.


Sudbury had more possession overall and certainly in the second half but were always chasing the game from the moment Swifts had taken the lead. Heybridge assistant manager Chris Moore cleared from Henshaw stealing in at the back after a Griffiths cross on 68 minutes.


With Heybridge Manager Mark Hawkes looking quietly satisfied whilst Sudbury boss Chris Tracey and Coach Lakin were tearing their hair out, the Swifts fans who swelled in number for the last day clapped off Holdstock for Charlie Gray to come on after 73 minutes. Mark Hawkes only had two subs to choose from with a little surprise still in store.


With six minutes of normal time Heybridge moved the ball forward aided by a small rebound, the ball fell kindly for Callander to net his hat trick tucking the ball into the left corner from inside the box to make it Afc Sudbury 1-4 Heybridge Swifts.


With just a couple of minutes of stoppage time remaining Swifts played their last available sub in number fifteen sub keeper Jack Parr replacing Solomon Ofori, yet Ashley Harrison remained between the sticks. Jack Parr went into the striking forward line with calls from the away fans to make sure he didn't pick up the ball.


The cheeky move rounded off a great end to the season as Swifts finish with 52 points as the rebuild gathers momentum. Former Swifts Coach Barry Lakin who is now coaching at Sudbury has referred to his team with Boss Chris Tracey as the Sudbury express and the afc express. The Swifts choo choo well and truly derailed that express on Saturday.


Full Time: AFC Sudbury 1 - 4 Heybridge Swifts

TEAMS:

AFC Sudbury: Danny Gay, Ryan Henshaw, Ashley Sloots, Michael Shinn (David Emmanuel 59), Nathan Clarke, Adam Dalby, Jamie Griffiths, Sam Clarke (David Wareham 71), James Baker, Chris Bryan, Russell Pond: Unused Subs: Richard Howell, Luke Nicoll, Ben Tracey

Heybridge Swifts: Ashley Harrison, Staurt Fergus, Tom Holdstock (Charlie Gray 73), Daniel Foakes, Chris Moore, James Stevens, Ashley Cole, Jon Edwards, Luke Callander, Tom Broadhurst, Solomon Ofori (Jack Parr 90)

ATT: 351