IT’S a big night on Thursday for the eight teams still involved in this season’s Suffolk Boys’ Under-18 Midweek Cup.

For the first time this season the final of the competition is to be played at Portman Road, home of Ipswich Town FC.

So there is an extra incentive for the sides still remaining to reach the final, which will be staged on Thursday, May 9th.

AFC Sudbury have dominated the competition since Sunday sides and midweek sides were split into two separate cups.

Woodbridge Town defeated Newmarket Town 4-0 in the first midweek final in 2015, since when AFC Sudbury have beaten Stowmarket Town (4-1), Walsham-le-Willows (5-2) and Bury Town (3-1) in the final to complete a hat-trick of successes. AFC Sudbury face a tricky trip to Kirkley & Pakefield in this season’s quarter-finals.

Framlingham Town have scored seven goals in their two ties so far in this season’s competition, and will be hoping to make home advantage count against Felixstowe & Walton United, who put out Woodbridge Town 5-4 on penalties following a 2-2 draw in the previous round.

Haverhill Rovers, who have scored nine goals in two away ties, are at home to Mildenhall Town, who put seven goals past Waveney in the second round.

The fourth and final tie sees Needham Market, who last reached the final in the 2014 season – the last one open to both Sunday and midweek sides – when they lost 2-1 to Cornard United, entertain the 2017 runners-up Walsham-le-Willows.

Action is pictured above from last season's semi-final between Bury Town (blue shirts) and Leiston (red shirts) which ended as a 1-1 draw, with Bury Town winning 6-5 on penalties on Whitton United FC.

Thursday’s Fixtures

Kick-offs 7.45pm:

Suffolk Boys’ Under-18 Midweek Cup Quarter-Finals: Framlingham Town v Felixstowe & Walton Utd, Haverhill Rovers v Mildenhall Town, Kirkley & Pakefield v AFC Sudbury, Needham Market v Walsham-le-Willows.