Hoping to still be Living the Dream
BILDESTON Rangers experienced the magic of winning the Total Football Suffolk Junior Cup last season.
The village club lifted the cup for the first time at Portman Road last May, and almost all the sides taking part in this weekend’s second round will be aiming to follow in their footsteps.
Could it be the name of Bedricks Worth, Kirton Athletic, Spexhall Huntsman & Hounds or Wickham Market that will be engraved on the trophy for the first time?
The number of possible winners, weather permitting, will be narrowed down to just 16 after Saturday afternoon’s second round has been completed.
Former winners, and last season’s runners-up, Bacton United 89 will be bidding to take their first step towards a fourth consecutive semi-final appearance at home to Clare Town.
Bacton United 89 players are pictured above celebrating scoring one of their goals in last season’s final against Bildeston Rangers, who won 4-2.
The draw for the third round will be announced via the Suffolk FA Twitter feed next Wednesday lunchtime at 12.30pm.
Saturday also sees the first two of the eight second-round ties in this season’s Days Sports Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup take place.
The second strings of Hadleigh United, Long Melford, Mildenhall Town and Whitton United will all by vying for a place in the last-eight.
On Sunday it is the third round in both the Suffolk Sunday Shield and Suffolk Sunday Trophy.
Bungay Town, who won the Suffolk Sunday Shield in both 2012-13 (3-2 v Birdbrook Plough) and 2013-14 (3-0 v Carlton United) are the only former winners involved in this season’s third round.
They entertain Trimley Raiders, who won 6-0 at home to Boleyn in the second round, while The Feathers travel to Great Blakenham Chequers following their 8-6 victory over Elmsett United.
The quarter-final draw will be filmed live on the Suffolk FA Twitter feed at 12.30pm next Thursday lunchtime.
Bardwell Sports, just like Bungay Town, are the only previous winners (3-2 v FC Monarchs) in 2017-18, involved in the third round of the Suffolk Sunday Trophy. They are at home to Elmswell Athletic.
The quarter-final draw will be filmed live on the Suffolk FA Twitter feed at 12.30pm next Friday lunchtime.
The outstanding first-round clash in the Suffolk Veterans’ Cup between Stowupland Falcons and Lowestoft Town is on Sunday afternoon. The winners will travel to Bungay Town in round two.
Midweek & Weekend Fixtures
Thursday
Suffolk Boys’ Under-18 Midweek Cup Second Round: Kirkley & Pakefield v Woodbridge Town (7.45pm).
Saturday
Kick-offs 2pm:
Total Football Suffolk Junior Cup Second Round: AFC Yourshirts v Waveney A, Bacton Utd 89 v Clare Town, Barham Athletic v Crusaders, Bedricks Worth v Haverhill Rovers A, Cockfield Utd v Ransomes Sports, Coddenham Athletic v Ufford Sports, First & Last v Bures Utd, Kirton Athletic v Bramford Road Old Boys, Saxmundham Sports v Needham Market A, Somersham v Beccles Caxton, Southwold Town v Wenhaston Utd, Spexhall Huntsman & Hounds v Halesworth Town, Sporting 87 v Walsham-le-Willows A, Stanton v Exning Utd, Tattingstone Utd v Hundon, Wickham Market v Sudbury Sports Academy.
Days Sports Senior Reserve Cup Second Round: Long Melford Res v Hadleigh United Res, Mildenhall Town Res v Whitton United Res.
Sunday
Kick-offs 10.30am unless stated:
Suffolk Sunday Shield Third Round: Bungay Town v Trimley Raiders, Hardwick v Prince of Wales, Rushmere & Diamonds v Godolphin, Shotley Rose v The Exchange, Laxfield Utd v Baltic Utd, Great Blakenham Chequers v The Feathers, Rosary CC v Haverhill & Hove Albion, Taverners v Sizewell Argyle.
Suffolk Sunday Trophy Third Round: The Feathers Res v Trinity, AFC Thurston v Kesgrave Kestrels, Smiler v Gainsborough Utd, Great Blakenham Chequers Res v Thrasher Utd, Hardy v AFC Claydon, Chantry Phoenix v Abbotts 07, Bardwell Sports v Elmswell Athletic.
Suffolk Veterans’ Cup First Round: Stowupland Falcons v Lowestoft Town (2pm).