Punter's heroics KO AFC Sudbury in cup
GOALKEEPER Nick Punter saved three penalties as Hadleigh United pulled off the shock result of the second round in the Turners Hyundai Suffolk Premier Cup.
Hadleigh won 5-4 on penalties following a 2-2 draw at AFC Sudbury on Tuesday night to secure their place in Saturday’s quarter-final draw.
Reece Dobson put the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division side ahead, before second-half goals from Lewis O’Malley and Tom Maycock gave AFC Sudbury a 2-1 lead.
Joel Glover equalised for the Brettsiders after 85 minutes to take the tie to a shoot-out, where Punter saved three of the home side’s spot kicks, before the experienced Matt Paine scored the decisive penalty for the visitors.
Stuart Boardley’s first match in charge as the new manager of Felixstowe & Walton United ended in a 4-1 defeat at fellow BetVictor Isthmian League North Division side Bury Town.
The home side eased to victory thanks to two goals from Ryan Stafford and one apiece for Cemal Ramadan and Emmanuel Machaya, before substitute Adam Hanson scored a consolation for the visitors.
Goals from Luke Ingram, Joe Marsden, Gareth Heath and Jake Dye – his first for the club – eased Needham Market to a 4-1 win at Haverhill Rovers.
Lowestoft Town, who like Needham Market, play two steps above their opponents, won 3-1 at neighbours Kirkley & Pakefield.
Substitute Louis McIntosh put Lowestoft ahead after 68 minutes, but Cameron Russell equalised from the spot, before Jake Reed struck twice in the final ten minutes to send Lowestoft through.
Craig Nurse (not in picture) beats Lewis Higgins from the penalty spot to secure a 2-1 win for Walsham-le-Willows at Whitton United on Tuesday night. Walsham players are also pictured (main picture) celebrating during their second-round success. Photographs: Paul Voller
There were away wins for both Brantham Athletic and Walsham-le-Willows in the two all-Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division ties.
Sean Gunn and Patrick Brothers were on target as Brantham won 2-0 at Mildenhall Town, while Matt Collins and a Craig Nurse penalty saw Walsham, under caretaker manager Trevor Collins, win 2-1 at Whitton United, whose goal came via Liam Wales.
The remaining two second-round matches take place on Wednesday evening, with holders Leiston at Woodbridge Town and Long Melford entertaining Stowmarket Town.
The quarter-final draw will be broadcast simultaneously via the Suffolk FA Twitter feed and BBC Radio Suffolk from 5.30pm on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Long Melford were 4-2 winners in the first of this week’s Suffolk Boys’ Under-18 Midweek Cup Second Round ties.
There are a further two fixtures on Wednesday evening and five more on Thursday.
The draw for the quarter-finals will be announced via the Suffolk FA Twitter feed at 12.30pm on Friday.
Tuesday’s Results
Turners Hyundai Suffolk Premier Cup Second Round: AFC Sudbury 2 Hadleigh Utd 2 – Hadleigh Utd won 5-4 on pens, Bury Town 4 Felixstowe & Walton Utd 1, Haverhill Rovers 1 Needham Market 4, Kirkley & Pakefield 1 Lowestoft Town 3, Mildenhall Town 0 Brantham Athletic 2, Whitton Utd 1 Walsham-le-Willows 2.
Suffolk Boys’ Under-18 Midweek Cup Second Round: Bungay Town 2 Long Melford 4.
Wednesday's Fixtures
Turners Hyundai Suffolk Premier Cup Second Round: Long Melford v Stowmarket Town, Woodbridge Town v Leiston.
Suffolk Boys’ Under-18 Midweek Cup Second Round: Hadleigh Utd v Whitton Utd, Needham Market v Brantham Athletic.
Thursday's Fixtures
Suffolk Boys’ Under-18 Midweek Cup Second Round: Cornard Utd v Waveney, Haverhill Rovers v AFC Sudbury, Ipswich Town U16s v Lakenheath, Kirkley & Pakefield v Woodbridge Town, Stowmarket Town v Framlingham Town.