County Cup Final places are on offer
SIXTEEN teams will by vying for a coveted county cup final place this weekend.
Twelve of those are in action on Saturday across three different competitions – the CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup, the Total Football Suffolk Junior Cup and the Portable Space Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup. (See links below to separate previews for the CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup).
Of the four semi-finalists in the Total Football Suffolk Junior Cup, three have never previously reached the final of this competition. Brandon Town are the exception, having won the competition three times in their history. They face Mutford & Wrentham at Bacton United 89 FC.
The West Suffolk side have been in fine goalscoring form so far in this season’s competition, finding the back of the net 22 times in their four ties.
Mutford & Wrentham have scored 12 goals to date and won at Wickham Market 6-5 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the second round.
The other semi-final sees Stowupland Falcons face Sporting 87 at Old Newton United FC.
After receiving a bye in the first round, Stowupland Falcons have found the net twice in each of their three victories en route to the last four.
Action is pictured above from Stowupland Falcons’ (yellow shirts) 2-0 quarter-final victory over Saxmundham Sports (orange shirts) earlier this month. Photograph: Amy Gilson.
Opponents Sporting 87, who were losing semi-finalists in the 2018-19 season, won the first two ties by a single goal margin (3-2 v Bedricks Worth and 1-0 v Tattingstone United) but have then scored four times (4-0 v Lakenheath Casuals and 4-1 v Carlton Colville Town) to reach this stage.
Holders Woodbridge Town Reserves will start favourites against Trimley Red Devils Reserves in their semi-final on the 3G pitch at Needham Market FC in the Portable Space Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup.
The Thurlow Nunn Reserve League side play two levels higher than their Macron SIL opponents, who have defeated three opponents from their own league by a single goal to get thus far.
Woodbridge Town Reserves, meanwhile, have rattled in 15 goals in their three victories, defeating SIL side Achilles Reserves 7-1 in their quarter-final, although the visitors did have their goalkeeper sent off.
The other tie is between Framlingham Town Reserves and Beccles Town Reserves, last season’s runners-up, at Bungay Town FC.
Beccles Town have made the most of home comforts, after being drawn out first in each of their three ties.
Two of those they won on penalties (4-1 v Coplestonians Reserves and 4-3 v Hadleigh United Reserves) before overcoming Long Melford Reserves 3-1 in the quarter-finals.
Framlingham Town have seen off opposition from three different leagues to date – SIL side Old Newton United Reserves, Bungay Town Reserves from the Anglian Combination and fellow Thurlow Nunn Reserves League outfit Walsham-le-Willows Reserves.
The outstanding McDonald’s Suffolk Primary Cup Quarter-final also takes place on Saturday afternoon as Stowupland Falcons Reserves entertain FC Whitehorse.
Stowupland Falcons Reserves have been reinstated in the competition after Clare Town Reserves played an ineligible player in a previous round. The winners will face Bramford United in the last four.
Sunday afternoon sees the semi-finals of this season's HomeStore Self Storage Suffolk Women's Cup taking place.
It will be a big day for Bungay Town, who take on Ipswich Town at Badingham Road, home of Framlingham Town FC.
Ipswich, the holders, have hit double-figures in all three rounds so far, so Bungay, who play in Division One of the Norfolk Women's & Girls' League, know they face a mammoth task if they are to reach the final for the first time.
The other tie sees Haverhill Rovers face fellow East Region Women's League Division One North side Needham Market at Recreation Way, home of Mildenhall Town FC.
Rovers last appeared in the final in the 2010-11 season, whereas Needham's only appearance came as recently 2018-19 in their first season.
The first of this season’s county cup finals are being staged this weekend when ‘Super Sunday’ – three cup finals on one day – takes place at AFC Sudbury.
Weekend Fixtures
Saturday
CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup Semi-Finals: Bildeston Rangers v Ipswich Wanderers at Claydon FC (2.30pm), Framlingham Town v Lakenheath at AFC Sudbury (3pm).
Total Football Suffolk Junior Cup Semi-Finals: Brandon Town v Mutford & Wrentham at Bacton Utd 89 FC (2.30pm), Stowupland Falcons v Sporting 87 at Old Newton Utd FC (2.30pm).
Portable Space Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup Semi-Finals: Framlingham Town Res v Beccles Town Res at Bungay Town FC, Trimley Red Devils Res v Woodbridge Town Res at Needham Market FC 3G pitch (3.30pm).
McDonald’s Suffolk Primary Cup Quarter-Final: Stowupland Falcons Res v FC Whitehorse (2.30pm).
Sunday
‘Super Sunday’ at AFC Sudbury:
Veo Suffolk Sunday Shield Final: Gainsborough Utd v Hardy (10am).
Bluefin Sport Suffolk Sunday Trophy Final: Stoke By Clare v Wamil Wasps (12.45pm).
Best Badges Suffolk Veterans’ Cup Final: Whitton Utd v Woodbridge Town (3pm).
HomeStore Self Storage Suffolk Women’s Cup Semi-Finals: Bungay Town v Ipswich Town at Framlingham Town FC (2.30pm), Haverhill Rovers v Needham Market at Mildenhall Town (2.30pm).
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