Final appearance would be 'special'
REACHING the Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup Final would be ‘special’ for Stowmarket Town.
Wednesday’s semi-final versus fellow Isthmian North side Bury Town at Needham Market FC (kick-off 7.45pm) will be the club’s fourth in a row.
The Old Gold & Blacks lost 3-0 to Felixstowe & Walton United in 2018-19 and 4-1 to Needham Market the following season, before the 2020-21 competition was not completed due to Covid.
Stowmarket defeated Leiston 3-0 in last season’s semi-final only to then subsequently withdraw from the competition after it came to light that they had fielded two ineligible players.
Current player-manager Chris Casement, who took over from Paul Musgrove in mid-February, was a member of the side that played in that semi-final.
Asked how disappointing that was for the club, Casement said: “Thanks for reminding me of that!
“Come this stage of the season every team likes to be in with a shout of winning silverware, and we have got that chance.
“We have a semi-final against a Bury team that have found some good form lately, so it is going to be a very difficult game.
“It is one that we obviously believe we can go into positively and get a result, so we are very much looking forward to it as it will be a good occasion for the club and, hopefully, we can give a positive performance.”
Casement, whose side have lost their last five matches in a row following on from a six-game winning streak, said his side will have to earn their place in the final.
He continued: “When anyone gets to a cup semi-final they want to win it, for sure. We know in the back of our minds that we are not going to just turn up and Bury will roll over and give us a place in the final for nothing.
“We are going to have to earn it and we are going to have to make sure we are ready to compete and give our all and we will do that.
“We will dust ourselves off after Saturday and recover as best we can and go and try and win the game.”
Asked what it would mean to the club should Stowmarket reach the final, Casement said: “It would be a great achievement for the club itself and for the fans.
“We have been on a terrific journey for the last five or six years so to cap it off this season with a final would be special.”
The winners of Wednesday’s tie will take on the winners of Tuesday’s semi-final between Leiston and holders Needham Market, who meet at Stowmarket Town FC, kick-off 7.45pm.
Stowmarket Town player-manager Chris Casement (far left) looks on as team-mate Joe Jefford clears during their 3-1 victory over Hashtag United.
