AFC Sudbury Manager Danny Laws remained mindful of the bigger picture after seeing his side retain the Suffolk Boys’ Under-18 Midweek Cup.

They had to come from behind on Bank Holiday Monday to beat Bury Town 3-1 at Colchester United’s Weston Home Community Stadium to make it three wins in a row in the competition.

Cameron Smith put Bury ahead after nine minutes, but AFC Sudbury restored parity through Tom Maycock just three minutes later.

Maycock added a second on the quarter-hour and Ben Hunter scored the third after 31 minutes, but Bury battled well and there was no further scoring. AFCSudbury’s players are pictured above celebrating one of their goals. Photograph courtesy of Paul Voller.

Laws said: “We did ourselves justice today. It was difficult because of the heat. We tried to keep our high tempo, but it was hard in the second half, and when you don’t get the fourth goal you are a bit more cautious.

“All credit to Bury Town as it was difficult for them as well, but they kept going throughout.

“We have won this cup three years on the trot, which is great for the club, but I look back at the team from two years ago and see how they have moved on and are doing well, and it will be the same with these players.

“We have done well at under-18 level but the bigger picture is that it is our job to give (first-team manager) Mark Morsley, who was here watching, good players.”

Laws also praised Suffolk FA for making the day a memorable occasion.

“Adrian Moye (county cup competitions manager) and Suffolk FA can take a lot of credit for the way they run the competition and the memories it gives these boys.

“It is not just playing the final at a Football League ground – it is everything else such as the flags and the music that makes it a great day.” 

Bury Town boss James Bloomfield said: “When you are playing against a team who train every day it makes it difficult, but we ran them close and I am really proud of my players.

“As a coach you look at every game and there are things that you might do differently, but I could not have asked for anything more.”

The only disappointment for Bloomfield was AFC Sudbury drawing level within three minutes of Bury Town taking the lead.

He added: “If we could have gone five or ten minutes without conceding it would have given us a foothold in the game, but unlike a lot of teams that they have played we didn’t crumble.

“Right until the end we still had the belief. This group absolutely love playing with each other. They are good friends on and off the pitch and I knew their desire to do well for each other would play its part.”