FA Vase Lakenheath Mildenhall Oct 2020 2

Trio close to first Senior Cup Final

THREE clubs are just 180 minutes away from reaching their first Suffolk Senior Cup Final.

THREE clubs are just 180 minutes away from reaching their first CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup Final.

Bildeston Rangers, Halesworth Town and Trimley Red Devils have never before been involved in the showpiece occasion of a competition that dates back to the 1885-86 season.

All three are emerging clubs in the county and between them have appeared in the last three finals of the Suffolk Junior Cup.

Either Bildeston Rangers or Trimley Red Devils will move within one match of a final appearance as they meet at Stennett’s Playing Field, Trimley’s home ground, in Saturday’s quarter-finals.

Trimley, who were Suffolk Junior Cup runners-up in the 2017-18 season, were comfortable winners against higher-league Haverhill Borough last time out.

They will be confident they can overcome their fellow Macron SIL Senior Division opponents, who lifted the Suffolk Junior Cup in the 2018-19 season.

Halesworth Town have taken to Senior football this season like a duck to water following their promotion along with winning the Total Football Suffolk Junior Cup last season.

They will have to defeat Ipswich Wanderers, the holders, if they are to keep alive their dreams of making it two finals in different competitions in successive seasons.

Thurlow Nunn League Division One North sides AFC Sudbury Reserves and Framlingham Town meet on the 3G pitch at the MEL Group Stadium.

The Castlemen’s only previous appearance in the final came in the 1995-96 campaign when they lost 3-0 to Grundisburgh, so they will feel another is long overdue.

Lakenheath won the competition as recently as the 2014-15 season, but will be mindful of Anglian Combination League Premier Division visitors Beccles Town.

It was at the same stage of the competition in the 2017-18 season that they lost 4-2 at home to another Anglian Combination League side in Bungay Town. Lakenheath (green shirts) are pictured above in FA Vase action versus neighbours Mildenhall Town (yellow shirts) in this season's Buildbase FA Vase at The Nest.

Five of the eight quarter-finalists in this season’s Total Football Suffolk Junior Cup have not previously made it to the final.

Four of those are in direct opposition to each other as Carlton Colville Town host Sporting 87 and Kirton Athletic take on Mutford & Wrentham.

The fifth, Puddlebook 68, entertain Brandon Town, who have won the competition three times, the most recent being in the 1980-81 season.

Stowupland Falcons, who lost 1-0 to AFC Sudbury Reserves in the 2005-06 final, have home advantage against Saxmundham Sports, who were victorious 1-0 versus Beccles Caxton in the 1990-91 final, in Saturday’s other last-eight tie.

The McDonald’s Suffolk Primary Cup has reached the fourth-round stage and Stage FC, who won the competition playing as Stage Event Security in 2015-16, host Grundisburgh Reserves.

Beccles Town, Framlingham Town and Trimley Red Devils all retain hopes of a cup double as their second strings have reached the quarter-finals of the Portable Space Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup.

Walsham-le-Willows Reserves, who are bidding to become the fist club to win the cup three times, travel to Framlingham Town, while holders Woodbridge Town host lower-league Achilles.

Sunday afternoon sees the Best Badges Suffolk Veterans’ Cup Quarter-Finals taking place, with previous winners Bury Town and Woodbridge Town as well as holders Whitton United all in action.

A reminder that no spectators are allowed if a match is taking place on private land. Spectators are permitted if the match is taking place on public land but you should check with the host club first before attending.

Earlier in the week Felixstowe & Walton United ousted Bungay on penalties to reach the final four of this season’s Blue Square Solutions Suffolk Boys’ Under-18 Midweek Cup.

The Seasiders progressed 3-2 on spot kicks following a 1-1 draw, while holders AFC Sudbury were pushed all the way by hosts Bury Town before coming out on top 3-2.

The third of Tuesday night’s quarter-final ties was a ten-goal thriller, with Ipswich Wanderers progressing 6-4 at the expense of Walsham-le-Willows, the 2016-17 and 2018-19 losing finalists.

 

 

Midweek Results

Tuesday

Blue Square Solutions Suffolk Boys’ Under-18 Midweek Cup Quarter-Finals: Felixstowe & Walton Utd 1 Bungay Town 1 – Felixstowe & Walton Utd won 3-2 on pens, Bury Town 2 AFC Sudbury 3, Ipswich Wanderers 6 Walsham-le-Willows 4.

 

Weekend Fixtures

 

Saturday

 

Kick-offs 2.30pm:

 

CNet Training Suffolk Boys’ Senior Cup Quarter-Finals: AFC Sudbury Res v Framlingham Town, Halesworth Town v Ipswich Wanderers, Lakenheath v Beccles Town, Trimley Red Devils v Bildeston Rangers.

Total Football Suffolk Junior Cup Quarter-Finals: Puddlebrook 68 v Brandon Town, Stowupland Falcons v Saxmundham Sports, Carlton Colville Town v Sporting 87, Kirton Athletic v Mutford & Wrentham.

McDonald’s Suffolk Primary Cup Fourth Round: Elmswell Res v Haverhill Town Blue, Stage v Grundisburgh Res, Kesgrave Kestrels v Leiston A, Clare Town Res v Stowupland Falcons Res, Laxfield v West Row Gunners, Bramford Utd v Hope Church, FC Whitehorse v Witnesham Wasps, Ipswich Exiles v Walsham-le-Willows B.

Portable Space Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup Quarter-Finals: Beccles Town Res v Long Melford Res, Claydon Res v Trimley Red Devils Res, Framlingham Town Res v Walsham-le-Willows Res, Woodbridge Town Res v Achilles Res.

 

Sunday

Kick-offs 2.30pm:

Best Badges Suffolk Veterans’ Cup Quarter-Finals: Wickham Market v Woodbridge Town, Whitton Utd v Lowestoft Town, Westbourne Warriors v Bury Town, Barham Athletic v Walsham-le-Willows.

Related News

View All