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Big Guns Ready To Lock Horns

By Tom Fairbrother LB Group Suffolk FA Premier Cup

Four of Suffolk Football's heavyweights go head-to-head on Wednesday night in the Semi-Finals of this season's LB Group Suffolk FA Premier Cup.

Kirkley & Pakefield, Needham Market, Bury Town and Ipswich Town have made it to the last four and are all just two wins away from lifting the trophy.

The first Semi-Final sees an all-Ridgeons League Premier Division clash between Kirkley & Pakefield, who sit fourth in the table, and last season's Premier Cup runners-up Needham Market, who lie one place above their opponents in third.

The two sides met in The FA Vase earlier in the season which saw Needham Market come out 5-3 winners in one of the matches of the season so far.

Both teams booked their Semi-Final berth with thumping away wins in the previous round; Kirkley and Walsham Le Willows were level at 1-1 after 90 minutes but Kirkley added another three unanswered goals in added time whilst Needham were too strong for Felixstowe & Walton United, cruising to an emphatic 7-2 victory.

Needham's all-action midfielder Craig Parker will be the one-to-watch for the visitors having averaged nearly a goal every two games this season. Kirkley on the other hand have shared the goals around with Chris Henderson, Russell Stock and Nathan Stone all into double figures for the season.

Having suffered heartache last season following a dramatic late defeat to Lowestoft Town in the Final, and having lost out to Wroxham in The FA Vase Quarter-Finals, Needham Market will be desperate to reclaim the Cup which they won in 2007-08.

The second Semi-Final sees Zamaretto Southern League Midland Division high-flyers Bury Town entertain Ipswich Town.

Bury Town are on a fantastic run of late; unbeaten in seven league matches, six of which have been wins and in five of those they have scored 3 or more goals.

In Round One they were pushed all the way by a determined Debenham LC from the Ridgeons League before eventually sealing a 2-1 win after extra-time. They booked their place in the last four with a narrow 3-2 win away at long time local rivals AFC Sudbury.

Prolific strikers Lee Underwood and Sam Reed have netted a combined total of 31 goals this season and they will be out to impress on Wednesday night when they take on Ipswich Town.

The Tractor Boys have not had the season they were hoping for, but under boss Roy Keane they are in transition and will be a force to be reckoned with next season.

Ipswich have generally used the LB Group Suffolk FA Premier Cup as an opportunity to give competitive match experience to their young Academy/Reserve Team players whilst complimenting them with experienced First Team players returning from injury or lacking match fitness.

Former England International Goalkeeper Richard Wright has been named in the provisional squad for tomorrow's Semi-Final and other First Team squad members who are not involved in tonight's Coca-Cola Championship fixture against Cardiff may be added at a later date.

Having suffered defeat in last season's Semi-Final against Needham Market, Ipswich Town will be keen to put the record straight and show why they were the pre-season favorites to lift this season's LB Group Suffolk FA Premier Cup.

Kirkley & Pakefield vs Needham Market will take place on Wednesday 10th March at Kirkley's Walmer Road Ground with kick-off at 7:45pm.

Bury Town vs Ipswich Town also takes place on Wednesday 10th March, kick-off at 7:45pm at Ram Meadow in Bury St Edmunds.

For more information on LB Group and the LB Group Suffolk FA Premier Cup, please use the related links located on the right hand side.