MANAGER Michael King said it would be ‘pretty special’ if his Bungay Town side can reach this season’s CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup Final.

Bungay will meet Leiston Under-23s in Friday’s semi-final at Lowestoft Town FC, kick-off 7.45pm.

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The Fosters Solicitors Anglian Combination Division One side caused an upset when they knocked out Henley Athletic in the last round.

King said: “It was very pleasing to beat Henley Athletic in the quarter-finals, I don’t think many gave us a chance of going there and progressing as arguably they are the best side at Step 7 in Suffolk and have been for a few years now. 

“We will be the underdogs again against Leiston U23s, they play at Step 6 level, which is two leagues above us. It is a title we are familiar with now considering our last two opponents in this competition have been Henley Athletic and Waveney in round two.

King admitted he does not know too much about their opponents, who play in Division One North of the Thurlow Nunn League.

“I know less about Leiston U23s than I do our previous two opponents to be honest. I have seen them play once this season and the two sides met in pre-season back in July. I’m sure both sides are very different now eight months on, so that will have very little relevance on Friday’s encounter.”

Bungay finished runners-up in the competition in the 2017-18 season after losing 3-0 to Woodbridge Town in the final at Portman Road, and the town is getting behind the club as they bid to reach the final again.

King said: “Reaching the Senior Cup Semi-Final has caught the imagination of the people within the club, as well as the people of Bungay as a town.

“We had a good following support us in the last round at Henley, hopefully there will be a larger Bungay contingent for the semi-final.

“It would be a massive achievement to reach this season’s Senior Cup Final. A side playing in Anglian Combination Division One has no right to reach the final, although the club did get there in 2018. To get there again within six seasons would be pretty special.”

The only remaining player from the 2017-18 squad is club captain John Riches, who plays in the centre of midfield. He returned to the club this summer after a spell at Loddon United, where he won the Norfolk Junior Cup last season. 

King said: “Unfortunately leading goalscorer Alex Shreeve is serving a three-game suspension, so will miss the tie. Andre Martins is also suspended.

“Beau Mullett, our second leading goalscorer, hasn’t played since late January although he is hopeful of returning to training this week.”

King said he will be keeping it simple when he delivers his team talk ahead of Friday’s tie.

“The message will be simply stick to our principles, stick to what we are good at. Play the game, not the occasion. And most importantly, be a good team-mate. The rest will take care of itself,” he said.

The Bungay Town players are pictured above after knocking out Henley Athletic 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in their quarter-final tie.

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