Five-star Needham KO Seasiders in cup
HOLDERS Needham Market produced a five-star display in the Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup.
The Marketmen defeated Felixstowe & Walton United 5-0 in the second round at Bloomfields on Tuesday evening to cement their place in the quarter-finals.
Striker Luke Ingram, who missed last season’s final through injury, scored a first-half hat-trick, with Dylan Williams and Seth Chambers completing the rout in the second-half.
Leiston, last season’s losing finalists, needed a 93rd minute Finlay Barnes goal to see off an Ipswich Town XI at Victory Road.
The visitors took the lead just after the hour through Ashton Boswell before Adam Mills equalised seven minutes later.
Evan Bolt's free-kick strikes the crossbar and goes into the net off Ipswich Wanderers' goalkeeper Craig Brand to give Woodbridge Town the lead. Main photograph: Tom Maycock's shot deflects off Anton Clarke (far right, blue shirt) to equalise for Ipswich Wanderers. Photographs: Paul Voller
There were wins for Step 4 sides AFC Sudbury, Bury Town, Lowestoft Town and Stowmarket Town over their Step 5 opponents.
A 26th minute Josh Mayhew goal was sufficient for AFC Sudbury, who handed first-team debuts to four Academy scholars, to overcome hosts Mildenhall Town 1-0.
Cemal Ramadan gave Bury Town a 16th minute lead away to Kirkley & Pakefield, before Blues’ defender Will Gardner received a straight red card just seven minutes later.
Kirkley’s Max Kirby was then dismissed after 65 minutes and Max Maughn sealed Bury’s path to the quarter-finals in the 92nd minute.
Adam Hipperson (6 mins), Sam Johnson (49 mins) and Kyle Haylock (78 mins) were on target for Lowestoft Town in their 3-0 victory over Haverhill Rovers.
Jack Ainsley put Stowmarket Town ahead on the stroke of half-time at home to Lakenheath, and Jack Wilkinson added a second four minutes after the re-start.
Luke Hipkin’s 90th minute goal wrapped up a 3-0 success for the Old Gold & Blacks to hand new manager Chris Casement his first win since taking over at Greens Meadow.
Ipswich Wanderers and Long Melford progressed to the last eight in the two all-Step 5 ties.
Wanderers had to come from behind to dispose of Woodbridge, who took the lead through Evan Bolt’s eighth minute free-kick that struck the crossbar and went in off goalkeeper Craig Brand.
However, Anton Clarke equalised for Wanderers a minute after half-time before a deflected 72nd minute Joel Glover strike settled the outcome.
Romanian substitute Carlos Lazar poked home a 90th minute winner for Long Melford after hosts Hadleigh United had twice fought back to equalise.
The visitors deservedly went ahead when Tom Warren, under pressure, headed a left-wing cross into his own goal after 29 minutes, before atoning with a firm header from a 44th minute free-kick.
Ryan Gibbs was upended by Harry Wales as he burst into the box and picked himself up to convert the resultant penalty after 62 minutes.
Hadleigh substitute Kyron Andrews restored parity with a near-post header eight minutes later. Lazar, who had only been on the pitch four minutes, netted when keeper George Bugg spilled a left-wing cross.
Luke Ingram (No.7) is congratulated after scoring one of his three goals in Needham Market's 5-0 victory over Felixstowe & Walton United. Photograph: Ben Pooley.
Long Melford manager David Hennessey, taking charge of the club in the competition for the first time, said: “It was a stroke of luck. We put Carlos on and he has been a bit of a find for us.
“I think that is his third goal in four games – he is a centre half, but we throw him on up top when situations dictate, and he will nick us a goal or get an assist or make a nuisance of himself.
“What a story he has been – he messaged every club in the Thurlow Nunn League, allegedly, to say he was looking to play and we were the only ones that responded to him and, lo and behold, we have got ourselves an absolute player, so we are delighted with him and the rest of the boys are over the moon to be in the next round.”
The draw for the quarter-finals will be announced on BBC Radio Suffolk during their Saturday afternoon sports programme and simultaneously released via the Suffolk FA Twitter feed.
County cup action continues on Wednesday evening with the first of this season’s Portable Space Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup Quarter-Final ties as Stowmarket Town Reserves entertain Hadleigh United Reserves.
Midweek Results
Tuesday
Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup Second Round: Hadleigh Utd 2 Long Melford 3, Haverhill Rovers 0 Lowestoft Town 3, Ipswich Town XI 1 Leiston 2, Ipswich Wanderers 2 Woodbridge Town 1, Kirkley & Pakefield 0 Bury Town 2, Mildenhall Town 0 AFC Sudbury 1, Needham Market 5 Felixstowe & Walton Utd 0, Stowmarket Town 3 Lakenheath 0.
Midweek Fixture
Wednesday
Portable Space Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup Quarter-Final: Stowmarket Town Res v Hadleigh Utd Res (7.45pm).
