STOWMARKET Town manager Chris Casement hailed his side’s outstanding display after reaching the semi-finals of the Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup.

The Old Gold & Blacks had to come from behind to win 3-1 at fellow Isthmian North side AFC Sudbury in Tuesday’s quarter-final tie.

They fell behind to former player Reggie Lambe’s 55th minute shot on the turn but drew level through Ed Upson’s calm finish six minutes later.

Josh Curry squeezed his shot into the bottom corner to put the visitors ahead in the 65th minute before Kane Munday, on as a substitute, struck a sublime third from nearly 30 yards after 77 minutes.

It means Stowmarket will be in the semi-final draw for the fourth season in a row, where they will be joined by Bury Town, Needham Market and Leiston/Ipswich Wanderers.

Casement said: “I am really, really pleased. The boys, to a man, were outstanding all over the pitch. We went a goal down in the second half and the response was excellent.

“Playing against a really, really good side in Sudbury who have been who have been very strong all season, it was very nice to progress to the next round.

“We started off the second-half really, really well, and their keeper made a good save from Kieran (Morley) just before and it was obviously disappointing to concede the goal.

“But I felt there was going to be a route back into the game and it was great to score when we did, so soon after they scored, and we followed it up with the second and third and, to be honest, I thought we ran out very comfortable winners in the end and it was an excellent performance.”

AFC Sudbury manager Rick Andrews said it was disappointing to go out at this stage but admitted that Stowmarket were good value for their win and wished them all the best for their semi-final.

He said: “In the first-half we thought we did more than enough to come in leading, which we weren’t, so we said to the boys you’ve just got to be patient.

“We started well and got a goal, but to be fair to Stowmarket as soon as they pulled one back, we seemed to be shell-shocked, like rabbits in headlights, and in the last 20-25 minutes they steamrollered us, so that’s the most disappointing bit from our point as I thought we lacked a bit of heart at the end.”

Luke Brown (red shirt) fires home past goalkeeper Max Boulter to put Needham Market into a 2-1 lead against Long Melford at Bloomfields. Main photograph: Brown (centre) is congratulated by Luke Ingram, who scored twice in their 3-1 victory. Photographs: Paul Voller

Managerless Bury Town beat Lowestoft Town 2-1 to book their place in the final four.

Darren Mills pounced on a rebound to score an 82nd minute winner, after Kyle Haylock’ 16th minute strike cancelled out Olly Hughes’ opener for the hosts five minutes earlier.

Holders Needham Market trailed at home to Step 5 Long Melford, who took the lead through a Ryan Gibbs penalty after 12 minutes.

Luke Ingram equalised, also from the spot, four minutes before the interval and Luke Brown’s low drive made it 2-1 to the Marketmen in the 49th minute.

Ingram scored his second and Needham’s third with a header from the returning Callum Page’s cross to seal victory in the 86th minute.

The remaining quarter-final tie will see Leiston host Ipswich Wanderers next Tuesday, March 28th.

The semi-final draw will be broadcast on BBC Radio Suffolk on the Non-League Hour on Thursday night between 8pm & 9pm and released simultaneously via the Suffolk FA Twitter feed.

Midweek Fixtures & Results

Tuesday

Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup Quarter-Finals: AFC Sudbury 1 Stowmarket Town 3, Bury Town 2 Lowestoft Town 1, Needham Market 3 Long Melford 1.

Thursday

Veo Suffolk Boys’ U18 Midweek Cup Semi-Final: Cornard Utd v Needham Market at Long Melford FC.