East Bergholt happy to be cup underdogs
EAST Bergholt United manager Steve Jay considers his side underdogs in their CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup Semi-Final versus Trimley Red Devils.
The two sides meet at The AGL Arena, the home of Felixstowe & Walton United FC, on Friday evening, kick-off 7.45pm, for a place in this season’s showpiece final.
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The two Macron SIL Senior Division sides met in the quarter-finals of the Morrison Freight Cup last Saturday, with Trimley running out 1-0 winners.
Jay, who said it would be a ‘massive achievement’ if East Bergholt can reach the final for the first time, said the outcome last Saturday will impact on their approach to Friday’s semi-final.
“The result will affect how we approach the game as we did not play well last Saturday, so hopefully there is more to come from us. We have been working on the areas we need to this week,” he said.
East Bergholt United have had to defeat Ransomes Sports, the holders Framlingham Town and Coplestonians to reach this stage of the competition.
Jay said: “Everyone is thrilled within the club that we have reached the semi finals.
“Every game has been a tough one and it’s definitely not been an easy route with them all being away fixtures as well.
“Whoever you play in the semi final it will be a hard one regardless. There is no real advantage or disadvantage to playing Trimley, but we will be considered underdogs based on current league form.
“I will be telling the players not to leave anything in the changing room, give it your all and see where it takes us.”
Eight of the squad that lost at this stage of the competition to Leiston Reserves (now U23s) two years ago are likely to feature in the match-day squad.
East Bergholt went out 3-1 on penalties following a 2-2 draw at Woodbridge Town FC, with Leiston Reserves then losing 1-0 to Ipswich Wanderers in the final.
East Bergholt United Chair Ciaran Dadds summed up what it means to the club to reach the last four.
He said: “It’s a wonderful achievement for the club and has summed up our season. On our day we can beat any side as we proved against Framlingham Town.
“We are keeping everything crossed we the make the final so the management team and players like Ben Bibby, Scotty Fryer and Graeme Butcher, who are club stalwarts, have their big day out and hopefully win some silverware.”
East Bergholt will be missing a couple of players who are cup-tied but otherwise should have everyone else available.
The East Bergholt United squad and management team pictured before last Saturday’s Morrison Freight Cup tie at Trimley Red Devils.
