IPSWICH Wanderers’ manager Glen Driver says the club will be ‘giving it their all’ to reach the semi-finals of this season’s Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup.

Wanderers face Ipswich Town Under-18s in a quarter-final tie at Humber Doucy Lane on Tuesday (kick-off 7.45pm) aiming to join his former club Leiston in the final four.

Wanderers beat Bury Town 2-0 in Isthmian North on Saturday to extend their recent undefeated league run to five matches, including four wins, to climb up to 11th in the table.

Driver, who was not in charge when Wanderers beat Woodbridge Town 1-0 in the first round, is anticipating a tough game against an Ipswich side who knocked out AFC Sudbury 5-3 on penalties following a goalless draw.

He said: “I have come up against them a few times and I have always been impressed with the Academy kids. They get the ball down and play the game the right way.

“That is what we are trying to instill here at Wanderers – we want to be a passing team, as I have always had passing teams as a manager.

“It should be a good game. We know it is going to be tough as they took AFC Sudbury to penalties before winning in the last round, so with Sudbury being a Step 3 side we know it is going to be a big task for us.

“We are looking forward to it – it is always good to pit your wits against your home-town club. I am an Ipswich Town fan through and through, so it will be nice to see a few Ipswich supporters in and have a look at what Ipswich have got in their Academy.

“There a semi-final place at stake. This club has won trophies over the last two seasons, so it would be nice to keep that momentum going and have a final at Portman Road or Colchester United or wherever it is going to be played.”

Driver experienced the highs and lows of Suffolk Premier Cup Finals with Leiston, losing 3-2 to Lowestoft Town after extra time in the 2005-06 season, and leading the club to their first-ever win in the competition by beating Bury Town 3-0 in the final at Portman Road in the 2017-18 season.

He recalled: “I was player-manager many years ago and thought I had got the winner at Portman Road, but Lowestoft scored two late goals as we lost 3-2.

“When we beat Bury Town at Portman Road there was a great atmosphere, and it is always nice to lead a team out at Portman Road, but to lead this football club out at Portman Road or wherever would be up there with some of their great achievements over the last few years.

“It is always nice to have something to look forward to at the end of the season before everyone goes on their holidays and we start again, so we will certainly be giving it our all to reach the semi-finals and then who knows?”

The third quarter-final takes place on Wednesday evening when Felixstowe & Walton United, who currently lead Isthmian North, entertain lower league Hadleigh United.

The Seasiders won 5-1 at home to Enfield on Saturday to continue their impressive start to the season. Hadleigh, who were without a fixture on Saturday, currently sit tenth in the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division.

The fourth and final quarter-final between holders Needham Market and Stowmarket Town has been scheduled for Tuesday, November 14th, kick-off 7.45pm.

Pictured above is Ipswich Wanderers’ 95th minute equaliser versus Stowmarket Town, a spectacular 35-yard rocket scored by Tyler Corlett (not in picture) which earned Glen Driver’s side a 2-2 draw during their recent five-match unbeaten run. Photograph: Paul Voller

Midweek Fixtures

Kick-offs 7.45pm unless stated:

Tuesday

Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup Quarter-Final: Ipswich Wanderers v Ipswich Town U18s.

Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup Second Round: Framlingham Town U23s v Brantham Athletic U23s.

Wednesday

Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup Quarter-Final: Felixstowe & Walton Utd v Hadleigh Utd.

Thursday

Veo Suffolk Under-18 Midweek Cup First Round: Ipswich Wanderers v Cornard Utd, Stowmarket Town v Hadleigh Utd.