Snr Res Cup Final Beccles Hadleigh Utd May 2023 1

Regan is spot on as Hadleigh win final

BEN Regan’s penalty saw Hadleigh United Reserves win this season’s Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup.

BEN Regan’s second-half penalty saw Hadleigh United Reserves win this season’s Portable Space Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup.

The Brettsiders beat Beccles Town Reserves 1-0 in Wednesday’s re-arranged final at the Watson & Hillhouse Victory Road Stadium, home of Leiston FC, after last Friday's tie was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Regan sent James Ellis the wrong way from the spot after Alfie Baker was brought down by Harry Stanton as he raced on to the ball from Tom Stephens-Fouracre’s hooked pass.

It was Hadleigh’s only shot on goal in the entire game, and Beccles were left due to rue a raft of missed chances which condemned them to their third defeat in this final in the last four years.

Beccles could have been two or three goals ahead by half-time but were guilty of some profligate finishing, the best two openings coming inside the first 20 minutes.

Snr Res Cup Final Beccles Hadleigh Utd May 2023 2

Beccles Town Reserves' striker Harvey Johnson goes close to equalising against Hadleigh United Reserves with an overhead kick after 75 minutes. Main photograph: Hadleigh's Ben Regan (not in picture) sends Beccles keeper James Ellis the wrong way from the penalty spot for the only goal of the game. Photographs: Paul Voller

A good run by Steve Bee, who was a constant threat down the right, set Harvey Johnson free after 15 minutes and his driven cross was headed over the bar by Tom Sergeant with the goal gaping.

Five minutes later Bee and Sergeant combined to free Lewis Holland, but with just Chris Warren to beat, the midfielder struck his shot straight at the goalkeeper.

Hadleigh looked more threatening at the start of the second half and took the lead after 58 minutes when Regan kept his composure to score from the spot.

However, they were indebted to Warren for keeping their lead intact when he got low down to his right to claw away Johnson’s overhead kick that looked destined for the bottom corner.

Beccles piled on the pressure in the closing stages, but Hadleigh’s defence held firm to secure a second success in this competition after also winning it in the 2014-15 season.

Hadleigh United manager Darren Harvey said: “We definitely weren’t at our best tonight – we are a better side than that – but after the season we have had, the players deserve this.

“We finished runners-up in the league and now we have won the cup, so we have had a fantastic season.

“Although Beccles didn’t control the game, if they had taken their chances we could have been a couple of goals down in the first-half.

“We knew they would tire and as the game went on and we were more positive with the ball.”

Harvey had special praise for goalkeeper Warren: “That was an incredible save to keep us in the lead. Chris has been immense for us this season and kept so many clean sheets.”

Snr Res Cup Final Beccles Hadleigh Utd May 2023 3

Hadleigh United Reserves' goalkeeper Chris Warren gets down low to his right to claw away Beccles striker Harvey Johnson's overhead kick to preserve his side's one-goal lead. Photograph: Paul Voller

Beccles Town joint manager Graham Lewis said: “We are proud of the boys, who were all outstanding. We stuck to our game plan, but we just didn’t take our chances.

“That was the best we have played in the three finals we have been in, but it just wasn’t our night.”

The cup and medals were presented by Tracy Spurgeon, Rachel Roshier and Chad Green from competition sponsors Portable Space along with Suffolk FA Chair Phil Lawler.

 

The Teams

Beccles Town Reserves: James Ellis, Harry Stanton, Jamie Bennett, Jordan Boyd, Edward Butcher, Lewis Holland, Steve Bee, Ewan Gallagher, Harvey Johnson, Ray Masters, Tom Sergeant. Used subs: Josh Cable, Max Nixon. Unused subs: Josh Riley, Aaron Godbold, Charlie Newport.

Hadleigh Utd Reserves: Chris Warren, Harry Croft, Henry Nicholls, Reece Crisp, Jack Benee, Kieron Judd, Taylor Locke, Frazer Simpson, James Wilding, Max Tate, Ben Regan. Used subs: James Collis, Tom Stephens-Fouracre, Alfie Baker, David Strike, Ryan Tene.

Referee: Carl Evans.

Attendance: 255.

 

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