Debenham LC Suffolk FA Junior Cup Round 3
Saturday 8th November at Rougham Playing Fields
Rougham Playing Fields was the picturesque setting on a cold November Saturday afternoon for the third part of Suffolk FA’s journey through the Debenham LC Junior Cup, as an in-form St Edmunds 1965 side hosted Ipswich-based Achilles.
Despite Achilles having the better of the opening stages, the first real goalscoring opportunity wasn’t created until the half-hour mark when Achilles top goalscorer Perry Arthur shot wide when put through on the St Edmunds goal. Moments later, the St Edmunds keeper Barry Savage was relieved again to see Robert Bucy put his snapshot fly over the bar.
Achilles continued to pile on pressure onto the St Edmunds goal after half-time, and took the lead in the 50th minute. Gavin Paul picked up a loose ball on the edge of the St Edmunds box and curled his low drive past the helpless Savage from 20 yards.
St Edmunds were unlucky not to equalise instantly, however a determined Martin Smith stood in their way. The Achilles goalkeeper made an outstanding save from a Daniel Grimwood drive. The full-back picked the ball up and drove a powerful shot in from 30 yards, but Smith managed to tip the effort over the crossbar.
The game was opening up and Achilles’ counter-attacking play was causing St Edmunds allsorts of problems, however they failed to convert numerous chances. Firstly, Arthur’s shot was deflected wide after a jinking run. Moment’s later strike-partner Bucy shot straight at the keeper and Arthur managed to put the close-in rebound way over the bar. Arthur then saw his shot hit the side-netting after rounding Savage, before Bucy had a goal ruled offside.
With 10 minutes remaining, the Achilles goalkeeper, Martin Smith, made another top-class save to keep Achilles in the lead. On this occasion he managed to tip over Ian Plumb’s drilled free kick. In the dying moments of the game Achilles midfielder Adam Nuttall saw his effort come back off the post, but it didn’t matter in the end as Achilles had done enough to book their place in the Fourth Round of the Junior Cup.
All in all, Achilles deserved the win which will now see them travel to Cockfield United in the next round. Cockfield, who currently sit just one place below Achilles in the SIL Divison One table, beat Pot Black 4 – 3 in the Third Round.
St Edmunds 65: Savage, Grimwood, Cox, Scarfe, C Gage, S Gage, Plumb, Zdrenka, Budgen, Bennett, Flannagan. Subs used: Flack, Dobbyn.
Achilles: Smith, Bucy, Starling, Allen, Richards, Wilkinson, Arthur, G Paul, Nuttall, Adams, T Paul. Subs used: Jones.
Referee: J Nunn (Ipswich)
Suffolk FA’s Man of the Match: Martin Smith
Smith made two top-draw saves to keep Achilles’ one-goal lead intact.