AMY Gilson scored twice as Stowupland Falcons reached the MH Goals Suffolk Women’s Cup Final for the first time.

They defeated Brantham Athletic 3-1 at a rainswept Humber Doucy Lane, home of Ipswich Wanderers FC, on Friday evening in front of a crowd of 357.

In the final they will face either AFC Sudbury or Needham Market, who meet in the second semi-final at Bury Town FC on Sunday afternoon, kick-off 2pm.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS BY CLICKING HERE

After taking a two-goal lead through Gilson and Ellis Rabey inside the opening 25 minutes, Stowupland were pegged back when Kirby Seward reduced the deficit five minutes before the break.

In an end-to-end second-half it was Stowupland who scored the crucial next goal, Gilson volleying home in the 76th minute to seal the outcome.

Amy Gilson (yellow shirt, far left) fires Stowupland Falcons ahead after nine minutes of their semi-final versus Brantham Athletic (blue shirts) on Friday night. Main image: Gilson turns away to celebrate her second and her side's third goal in their 3-1 victory. Photographs: Paul Voller

Martin Huggins, who is joint manager of Stowupland Falcons with Simon Gant, said afterwards: “It feels fantastic. The ladies have been absolutely brilliant tonight.

“They came along and every single one of them has put in a performance that we are so proud of right from the goalkeeper through to the forwards, every single player put a shift in tonight, didn’t stop running, didn’t stop working and played some brilliant football with it.”

Looking ahead to the prospect of facing either AFC Sudbury or Needham Market in the final, Huggins said: “They are both teams that are at a higher level than us, so it will be another great test for our ladies, but if we put in another performance like that we will give them a good game.

“It will be a brilliant day out for them and one they fully deserve and we can’t wait to find out. I will probably go along on Sunday and watch that game to see who we are likely to play.”

Gilson gave Stowupland the perfect start when she fired home after the Brantham defence had failed to clear a right-wing Rabey corner in the 10th minute.

They doubled their advantage after 24 minutes when Rabey’s corner, this time from the left, eluded everyone and ended up in the back of the net.

Kirby Seward gave Brantham a lifeline when she turned home Stacey Teager’s right-wing corner at the near post in a crowded penalty area in the 40th minute.

Kirby Seward (hidden) pulls a goal back for Brantham Athletic (blue shirts) against Stowupland Falcons (yellow shirts) following Stacey Teager's right-wing corner: photograph: Paul Voller

Stowupland had been the better side and were deserving of their lead at the half-way stage, but the second period was more even as Brantham threatened an equaliser.

There was little to choose between the two teams, as you would expect from sides only separated by two points in the Premiership Division of the Suffolk Girls’ & Women’s League.

Stowupland’s Lucy Daly saw her shot cleared off the line in the 71st minute before Gilson volleyed home her second just underneath the crossbar to make it 3-1 five minutes later.

Brantham goalkeeper Daisie Gibbs made a superb close-range block to deny Emily Bates and Stowupland a fourth goal soon after, before the final whistle blew

The Teams

Brantham Athletic: Daisie Gibbs, Chloe Wilson, Shannan Hill, Kirby Seward, Aimee Berry, Lucy Dunnett, Rachel White, Merlin Watson, Laura Tuley, M’Leah Wright, Tarnya McKew. Used subs: Rebecca Prime, Stacey Teager, Claire Turnbull,. Unused subs: Issey Bines, Lucy Ferguson.

Stowupland Falcons: Emily Huggins, Eloise Flack, Anya Williams, Ebonie Calvert, Milly Gant, Ellis Rabey, Clare Bevan, Laura Brame, Millie Bloom, Emily Bates, Amy Gilson. Used subs: Abby Durrant, Porscha Rampley, Lucy Daly.

Referee: Calin Rogojan.

Attendance: 357.