Harlow boss concedes title to AFC Sudbury

Harlow Town manager Danny Chapman believes AFC Sudbury are now a shoo-in for the Ryman League Division One North title, following the Hawks being hit by a stoppage time winner at Soham Town Rangers last night (Tuesday, February 24).

The Hawks boss believes the 12 point gap up to the Yellows with just one game left in hand now is insurmountable and believes they must now be aim for a play-off place.

I can’t see Sudbury losing that many games for us to catch up

“I’m more disappointed for the players because of what they have done over the last two months where the title might have been a possibility,” he told the Harlow Star.

The defeat at Julius Martin Lane was only Harlow’s first defeat in 15 games but came after a club record winning run of 12 games had been ended with a 2-2 draw at Dereham Town on Saturday.

It left Thurrock as AFC’s nearest challengers, also on 73 points but courtesy of a superior goal difference, after they scraped past a Bury Town side missing 10 first-team players on the same evening.

Chapman added: “I can’t see Sudbury losing that many games for us to catch up, but our aim was always the play-offs.

“Out of our remaining games we might need 20 points to cement it.”

AFC, who won 3-1 at Haringey Borough on Sunday, have won five straight games since suffering a 4-0 home defeat to Thurrock at the end of last month.

Jamie Godbold’s side host bottom side Redbridge on Saturday (3pm) - follow live updates via our ‘live sport’ section.

* Get your copy of Thursday’s Suffolk Free Press print edition to read an interview with AFC Sudbury midfielder Ollie Berquez on his thoughts on the title race.