The Suffolk FA Junior Cup took centre stage on Saturday as the Semi-Finals were played at Bacton United 89 FC and Sudbury Athletic FC respectively.
The all-SIL showdown between Bacton United 89 of Division Two and Division One's Mendlesham was certainly one for the neutrals goals and action aplenty. 10-man Mendlesham held their lower league hosts to a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes and extra-time was required. As Mendlesham began to tire, Bacton made their numerical advantage count as they built a 4-2 lead.
Mendlesham hit back to make it 4-3 and then hit the crossbar in a grandstand finish, but a second red card put a realistic end to their chances of a famous comeback. Bacton sealed the win with an audacious late fifth goal to clinch a historic 5-3 victory and a place in the Final. A remarkable achievement for a team who are entitled to enter the Suffolk FA Primary Cup.
The second Semi-Final between Sudbury Athletic and favorites St Johns saw the underdogs edge an even match 1-0 thanks to Steve Glitz's winning goal.
The other Suffolk FA County Cup Semi-Finals to take place on Saturday saw holders Lowestoft Town, Ipswich Wanderers, Haverhill Rovers and Hadleigh United compete for a place in the Suffolk FA Senior Reserve Cup Final.
Lowestoft traditionally have an impressive Reserve Team and they lived up to the billing, running out 4-1 winners over Ipswich Wanderers who can be proud of their efforts in reaching the Semi-Finals as a Ridgeons Division One club competing against Premier Division sides.
In the Final they will face Haverhill Rovers after they beat Hadleigh United 2-1 at Hamlet Croft. Haverhill won the competition in its first season back in 2007-08 and will be desperate to regain the Cup this year.
Attention then turned to Sunday as Suffolk FA's three prestigious Sunday Cups were being competed for.
In the Sunday Cup, holders Wortham Dolphin United's hopes of retaining their crown were ended by a brilliant display from Mount Pleasant from Haverhill, going down 2-0 at home.
Mount Pleasant's Final opponents will be Ipswich Thistle from the Ipswich Sunday Football League as they saw off a hard-working Shotley Rose outfit from the Licensed Trades League in the all-Ipswich fixture. Thistle have several experienced players in their side and they used it to their advantage as they sealed a 1-0 win.
The Sunday Shield saw Factory Arms Old Boys blow away their opponents from Bury St Edmunds, The Cock Inn. It was a day to forget for the Bury side as they were on the wrong side of a 7-1 scoreline.
Lowestoft-based Factory Arms now go on to meet last season's Suffolk FA Sunday Trophy winners Rickinghall. Rickinghall made the trip to Ipswich to take on AFC Chequers from the ISFL and the hosts couldn't make home advantage pay as they fell to a 3-0 loss.
The third of Suffolk FA's Sunday Cups, the Sunday Trophy, is always hotly contested and this year was no different.
The Ipswich Sunday Football League can be proud of the fact that all four Semi-Finalists play their football in their League and as a result they will boast this season's winners.
The first Semi-Final saw HSF entertain the newly-formed Drum & Monkey. The visitors had destroyed all before them on the way to the Semis but it proved one step too far for them in their first season as they went down 3-1.
HSF will be delighted to have reached the Final, and standing between them and the Trophy are Skyline. The Felixstowe-based team held off a strong challenge from Royal Oak to reach the Final, also courtesy of a 3-1 win.
With all of the weekend's Semi-Final matches completed, the three Tesco Suffolk FA Cups reached their climax on Sunday afternoon.
The Under 16 Girls Cup Final between Bury Town Girls and Brantham Athletic Girls was played at Henley Athletic Football Club and it was Brantham who were victorious, lifting the Cup thanks to an 8-3 victory.
Wickham Market Football Club was the stage for the Under 14 Girls Cup Final; Sizewell & Knodishall Girls took on Stowupland Falcons Girls. Stowupland battled hard for the duration but on the day Sizewell were too strong and went home with the Cup after running out 4-1 winners.
Finally, Framlingham Town Football Club's excellent facilities were host to the Boys Under 13 Cup Final which saw Woodbridge Town Youth defeat Waveney Youth 4-0.
All three Cup winners now progress to the regional Finals where they will represent Suffolk.
Suffolk FA would like to congratulate all clubs on their achievements so far in this season's County Cups and wishes everyone the best of luck for the Finals.
For more information on any of the Suffolk FA County Cups, please use the related links.