GARDENERS Arms were crowned champions of the Best Badges Suffolk Sunday Trophy with a dominant 4-0 victory against Barton Mills in the final, writes Rob Binns.

First-half goals from Michael James, Craig Sutton and Lee Kerry put the Ipswich Sunday Football League Division Two side in control at the break before a second goal from James completed the rout in the second half of the final on ‘Suffolk Super Sunday’ at Needham Market FC.

Gardeners Arms took the lead in the 15th minute when Barton Mills gifted the ball to James in the middle of the park and he drove forward into the box dodging multiple challenges before firing in off the underside of the crossbar past the onrushing keeper.

They doubled their lead five minutes later when Sutton’s in-swinging corner from the right caused havoc at the back post which meant no one was able to make contact with the ball allowing it to sail directly into the back of the net.

Gardeners Arms celebrate after being presented with the trophy. Main Photograph: Gardeners Arms (red shirts) and Bury Bowl (blue shirts) battle for possession during the final at Needham Market FC.

Gardeners Arms went close in the 25th minute when Joe Dillon sent James through on goal with a flick-on from a long ball, but the winger couldn’t match his earlier effort and fired over from just inside the box.

Barton Mills, who play in Division Four of the Bury & District Sunday League, almost pulled one back in the 36th minute when space opened up for Harvey Haycock to shoot from 25 yards. His effort looked destined for the top left corner, but Ben Hicks produced a stunning fingertip save to turn it wide.

Gardeners Arms extended their lead in the 43rd minute when Barton Mills twice cleared the ball into the back of their own player which saw the loose ball fall to Kerry, who calmly tucked it into the bottom right corner.

They then netted a fourth in the 70th minute when the ball was squared across the box for James, who slotted home his second of the match to put the result beyond all doubt for his side.

The cup and medals were presented by Alice Barton and Alice Libert-Simons from competition sponsors Best Badges.

The Teams

Barton Mills: Matt Webb, Calum Maddix, Connor Viccars, Zak Morley, Spike Murkin, Lewis Stevens, Harvey Haycock, Tom Sheehan, Liam Garratt, Ryan Wilson, Kieran Hayden Used subs: Logan Hales, Sean Hebb, Harry Warburton, Gareth Borrett, Conor Gordon.

Gardeners Arms: Ben Hicks, James Ingham, Craig Sutton, Matthew Shaw, Toby Rose, Jack Dillon, Jordan Rowe, Daniel Mclaughlin, Michael James, Lee Kerry, Joe Dillon Used subs: Anthony Cockerill, Jack Young, Alex Hunt, Daniel Ingham, William Boosey.

Referee: Ashley Moore.