Saturday 31st January at Woodbridge Town FC
Suffolk started this cup-tie brightly, and good combination play involving Ingram, Steed and Clark forced a corner in the third minute. From this, a clearance went for another corner and this one from Clark was well held by Brand in the visitors’ goal.
It took the Isle of Man team nearly 20 minutes to get a foothold in the game, but during this early period the home team failed to convert their superiority into a lead – or even to a clear attempt at goal. Mid-way through the first half saw their 2 best opportunities to go in front. The first saw Ingram run powerfully from mid-field before passing out to Grint, who took the ball round the back of the defence, cut in and drove low at Brand. The shot was beaten out to Ingram who returned it tamely to the keeper. The second followed fine work on the right by Bloomfield which won a free-kick for Kempson. From his cross, Marsh headed just over under pressure from his opposite number Quigley.
By now, Isle of Man were gaining in confidence, but the game continued to be played almost entirely in the middle of the pitch. For the home team, Hunter provided a wonderful 40 yard cross-field pass out of defence to find Steed in space, but the winger found the angle too narrow and shot over the bar. With 5 minutes to go until the interval, the visitors had their best opportunity when a mistake by Hunter let in Kelly for a shot at keeper Pope, who did well to parry the effort. Kempson nipped in to prevent McVey connecting with the loose ball.
Suffolk gambled at the start of the second half with 2 substitutions, and their play became much more direct. They took the lead in the 48th minute when a long throw from sub Hardwick was headed out by Gray to Marsh who shot through a crowded area past an unsighted keeper. Isle of Man, however, almost cancelled this when a penetrating cross from Halsall put the home defence under pressure. A turning point in the game came in the 55th minute, when Gray did well to work space for a shot from the edge of the box. His shot was enough to beat Brand but the ball struck the foot of the post and came back into the keepers arms. A 2 goal lead at that point could have been decisive, but 3 minutes later, Isle of Man equalised. A corner from Thomas overshot the entire penalty area and came out to Kelly whose low, angled drive from 20 yards found the opposite corner of the net. The initiative had swung completely in those 3 minutes and Thomas took advantage of a slip by Hardwick on the left, to cut in and drive towards goal. Marsh made a desperate block to clear the danger.
With 15 minutes left, Suffolk were reduced to 10 men when Gray was sent-off for a petulant kick at Brand. 4 minutes later, Isle of Man were awarded a penalty for a push in the back and McVey confidently converted to put his team in front. Manager Gould sent on his 3rd substitute and went with 3 at the back for the last 10 minutes. This galvanised the home players into greater urgency and for much of that period they pushed their opponents onto the back-foot. Finch met a fine long pass from Hunter, but blazed over the bar, and with 5 minutes left, a fine cross by Hardwick won a corner. Suffolk threw everyone forward – even keeper Pope, and although this was cleared, Pope persisted with this attacking policy.
In the last minute, a corner from the right was headed back into the box by Pope to Marsh whose forward header found Hunter. His looping header was goal-bound until Quigley got up from under the bar to head clear and ensure that it would be the Isle of Man team who would host a semi-final tie against either Kent or Durham. A disappointing end to what had earlier in the season promised to be a good cup run, but we know that next season will provide another chance to win back this prestigious trophy.