Coddenham Ath red black Laxfield green black Primary Cup Feb 2023 1

Pair reach first Primary Cup Final

GIPPING Gnats will face Coddenham Athletic in the McDonald’s Suffolk Primary Cup Final.

GIPPING Gnats will face Coddenham Athletic in this season’s McDonald’s Suffolk Primary Cup Final.

Both teams won their respective semi-finals at the weekend to reach the showpiece final of the competition for the first time.

Gipping Gnats comfortably overcame fellow Macron SIL Division Four side Coplestonians ‘A’ 4-0 at AFC Sudbury on Friday evening.

Coddenham Athletic also found the net four times as they beat Brantham Athletic ‘A’ 4-2 in the second semi-final at Woodbridge Town FC on Saturday afternoon.

The SIL Division Five side actually led 4-0 after 42 minutes, before their Essex & Suffolk Border League Division Three opponents scored either side of half-time. Coddenham (red & black striped shirts) are pictured above in action against Laxfield (green & black shirts) in their 4-0 victory in the thirds round of this season's competition.

Sunday’s semi-final fixtures across five county cup competitions were affected by the wet weather, with five of the ten scheduled last-four ties postponed.

Both MH Goals Suffolk Women’s Cup Semi-Finals – Needham Market versus East Bergholt Utd and Bungay Town versus Brett Vale – were postponed, along with the Best Badges Suffolk Veterans’ Cup tie between Ipswich Wanderers and Woodbridge Town.

Haverhill Rovers, winners of the Veterans’ Cup in the 2013-14 season, defeated last season’s losing finalists Lowestoft Town 5-0 at Bacton United 89 FC to reach the final for a second time.

That was the second tie of the day to be staged at the same venue after Bacton United 89 earlier overcame Wamil Wasps 2-1 in the Best Badges Suffolk Sunday Shield Semi-Final.

In the final Bacton United 89, who won last season’s Suffolk Sunday Trophy, will meet Rushmere & Diamonds, the 2019-20 runners-up in this competition.

Rushmere & Diamonds won an eight-goal thriller 5-3 against Westbourne Warriors to confirm their place in the final.

Mellis, meanwhile, are through to their fifth Best Badges Suffolk Sunday Cup Final after beating hosts Elmswell Athletic 6-1.

Their opponents in the final have yet to be decided as the Borussia Martlesham versus Moreton Hall Youth Ferals tie was postponed.

The same fate befell Taverners and West Suffolk Wolves, with the winners knowing they will face AFC Dragonfly in the Best Badges Suffolk Sunday Trophy Final.

AFC Dragonfly were 2-1 winners at fellow Bury & District Sunday League side Stowupland Falcons.

Needham Market will have to wait to see who they will face in the final of the Veo Suffolk Boys’ Under-18 Midweek Cup.

They defeated Cornard United 3-1 in Thursday’s semi-final at Long Melford FC to set up a final against either holders AFC Sudbury or Ipswich Town U16s, who meet on Thursday, April 6th.

Midweek Result

Thursday

Veo Suffolk Boys’ Under-18 Midweek Cup Semi-Final: Cornard Utd 1 Needham Market 3.

Weekend Results

Friday

McDonald’s Suffolk Primary Cup Semi-Final: Gipping Gnats 4 Coplestonians ‘A’ 0.

Saturday

McDonald’s Suffolk Primary Cup Semi-Final: Coddenham Athletic 4 Brantham Athletic ‘A’ 2.

Sunday

Best Badges Suffolk Sunday Cup Semi-Finals: Borussia Martlesham v Moreton Hall Youth Ferals – postponed, Elmswell Athletic 1 Mellis 6.

Best Badges Suffolk Sunday Shield Semi-Finals: Bacton Utd 89 2 Wamil Wasps 1, Rushmere & Diamonds 5 Westbourne Warriors 3.

Best Badges Suffolk Sunday Trophy Semi-Finals: Stowupland Falcons 1 AFC Dragonfly 2, Taverners v West Suffolk Wolves – postponed.