A BATTLING Soham performance went unrewarded on Monday night as they went down 3-1 at AFC Sudbury. Despite the returning Shawn Richards handing the Greens a lead late in the first half, it only served to boost the home side who scored two in quick success

A BATTLING Soham performance went unrewarded on Monday night as they went down 3-1 at AFC Sudbury.

Despite the returning Shawn Richards handing the Greens a lead late in the first half, it only served to boost the home side who scored two in quick succession to take the game away from Ian Benjamin's men.

The loss, Soham's sixth in seven games, keeps them marooned in 15th place on 42 points with just three games remaining this season.

Despite the eventual abundance of goals, the game failed to ignite in the opening half hour with the best chance falling to Richards after 25 minutes when he found space to fire goal wards from 10 yards out only to be denied by a superb block from the home keeper.

There was no mistake from Richards after 42 minutes however, as he was sent clear by Andy Furnell and had the simplest of tasks to slot home from close range.

Soham's lead was not to last however as, in a frantic five minute spell, Sudbury equalised and took the lead courtesy of goals from Danny Bloomfield and Curtis Haynes-Brown.

In the second half Soham found themselves on the back foot for much of the opening 20 minutes but were stung into action by the introduction of Charles Libam who proved a handful for Sudbury's tiring defence.

Benjamin's men almost equalised with little more than 20 minutes remaining as Richards once again worked some space only to see his stinging drive slip wide of the post with the keeper all but stranded.

For all their endeavour and commitment though, Soham were unable to find a way through and they were eventually undone three minutes from time when Bloomfield registered his second of the day to seal the points.