JOINT Leiston Manager Darren Eadie said his side stepped up a gear to book their place in the semi-finals of the Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup.

Leiston defeated Ipswich Wanderers 5-2 in Tuesday’s quarter-final tie at the Watson & Hillhouse Victory Road Stadium to set up a last-four meeting with Needham Market.

The home team led 2-0 at half-time through goals from Fin Barnes and Adam Mills, but a defensive mistake saw Jack Madley capitalise to pull a goal back early in the second-half.

Two Ben Fowkes goals in the space of five minutes effectively settled the outcome, before George Quantrell added a fifth and Nathan Read then pulled another one back in time added on.

Eadie said: “It was a tough game. We always knew it was going to be a difficult one. It’s always important to get as far as you can in cup competitions, but I think there was definitely a mutual respect for both teams here tonight.

“We have an important run in to the end of the season and they have too. I think if we had both been sitting in mid-table you might have seen a few more tackles flying in.

“It was a good spectacle to watch, and I was pleased with the five goals we scored and disappointed with the ones we conceded, but it’s just important to get to the next round.

“We have got attacking players in our team and are very capable of scoring goals, but I think sometimes we make poor decisions in and around the box and we are not clinical enough, but tonight we scored some great goals and particularly in the first-half we could have had another three or four goals and perhaps should have done.”

Eadie said that a two-goal lead is always a precarious one as the next goal can often be all-important.

“We said to them at half time – and you can say it until you are blue in the face – 2-0 is a difficult scoreline to go in at sometimes because you can get a little bit complacent and the next goal is massively important.

“We said if you continue to play in the second half like you did in the first they won’t get a look in really, but we didn’t. We started the second-half poorly and they got a goal back and it puts you on the back foot, but I think with the quality we have got in the side, it was about stepping up another gear or so to put ourselves in control of the game again.

“I didn’t ever feel we were going to lose the game, but when it becomes like that all of a sudden you are in a battle and things change a little bit, but we stepped it up and scored two goals relatively quickly and put the game to bed,” added  Eadie.

Joint Ipswich Wanderers’ Manager James Buckle said: “If they had scored a few more I don’t think we could have complained too much. They are a very, very good side whose movement on and off the ball is exceptional

“We had a chance to go one-nil up through Jamie Eaton-Collins and we have had a few chances during the game, but nothing compared to what they have created and had, so it was a fair result.

“Credit to our boys as they didn’t stop, they kept going and I don’t think we came here and embarrassed ourselves, we probably could’ve if we just wanted to sit back.”

Leiston will now face Needham Market in the semi-final in a repeat of last season’s final which the Marketmen won 5-4 on penalties following a goalless draw.

The tie will be played at Greens Meadow, home of Stowmarket Town FC, on Tuesday, April 18th.

Bury Town will meet Stowmarket Town in the second semi-final at Bloomfields, the home ground of Needham Market FC, on Wednesday, April 19th.

Tickets are already on sale for both ties, which will kick-off at 7.45pm.

Action is pictured above from last season’s final between Leiston (blue shirts) and Needham Market (red shirts) at Colchester United FC.

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Midweek Result

Tuesday

Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup Quarter-Final: Leiston 5 Ipswich Wanderers 2.