Kitcheners eyeing up winning the treble
KITCHENER Taverners Manager Lee Leparvlo is looking to end his first season in charge by completing a treble after winning the Suffolk Sunday Cup.
The Ipswich Sunday Football League side, who have already wrapped up their Premier Division title, disposed of Mellis 4-1 in Sunday’s final at Needham Market FC.
Goals from Zhen Young, Ryan Wardley, Ethan Clarke and Byron Ingham ensured a comfortable victory over their Premier Logos Bury & District Sunday League opponents whose solitary reply came via Tom Green.
Leparvlo, who took over as manager before the start of this season, said: “We lost last week and coming the week before a cup final that shook us up a bit, but we produced a great performance today.
“We put a lot of energy into the first-half and were on top, and then took our foot off gas, but after they scored we found another gear.
“We have won our league and now won the Sunday Cup Final, so we will be looking to do the treble when we play Ipswich Thistle in our league cup final next Sunday.”
Kitcheners face Ipswich Thistle, who a fortnight ago won the Anglian Radio Kids’ Trust Suffolk Sunday Shield, in the Peter Cocker Senior Cup Final at Gainsborough Sports Centre in Ipswich.
Mellis Manager Simon Nichols, whose side also lost in last season's final, conceded: “It was difficult as they are a decent side, but for us to get to the final is an achievement in itself.
“Bearing in mind we are a group of lads who enjoy a kick-about on a Sunday morning we should be proud to reach the final.
“Their quality shone through and we didn’t show the desire and passion we needed to.”
Nichols, who said the majority of his side play in the Hadley & Ottaway Anglian Combination, was disappointed that after pulling a goal back Mellis were not able to mount a serious challenge.
He added: “We could not maintain that level and kick-on and score another one, and their third goal killed us off.
“As long as the boys want to continue playing we will be back to have another go at winning it next year.”
Byron Ingham (no.11) is pictured above scoring Kitchener Taverners’ fourth and final goal against Mellis in the 94th minute.