MANAGER Jimmy Brown aims to deliver the CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup that Henley Athletic crave.

For all their success in recent seasons, the Suffolk Senior Cup is the one trophy to so far elude the reigning Gateway 14 SIL Senior Division champions.

Brown, who took over in the summer following the departure of Liam Bevis and Chris Rogers, knows what it takes to win a county cup competition.

He was manager of Stowmarket Town Reserves, who lifted the Portable Space Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup last season as part of a treble-winning campaign.

However, Henley will first have to knock-out fellow Senior Division side and current cup holders Trimley Red Devils, who they meet at Notcutts Park, home of Woodbridge Town FC, in the semi-finals on Friday, kick-off 7.45pm.

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Brown said: “It’s no secret to anyone this is the competition Henley Football Club want to win, but we have to concentrate on the semi-final first.

“As it’s recently been confirmed the final is being played at Portman Road that should give the lads extra determination to deliver a solid performance, but we know as a club we have to earn the right and deliver a perfect performance to achieve this.

“Yes, we know Trimley, but Trimley also know us, so it’s got the makings to be a great game of football. We have played them already this season, so we know their strengths and weaknesses.

“However, they also know our strengths and weaknesses, so I feel no side has the advantage. In my opinion, it’s the side who turns up on the night that will progress to the final, but if it goes the same way as our previous meetings we’re in for a great game.”

Henley defeated Trimley 1-0 in a league game last Saturday – just a week after Henley’s shock quarter-final exit from this season’s Morrison Freight Cup to Division One side Kirton Athletic.

He said: “It was very disappointing to go out of the league cup, but we will use that disappointing result and take the positives from that game, work hard on the negatives and do everything we can against a very good side to progress to the final.”

Brown, who hopes to have a fully fit squad to choose from, added: “It’s nice to make another county cup semi-final. Over the past five seasons I’ve been a manager, the previous three semi-finals I’ve been involved in were in the Senior Reserve Cup.

“This time it is the Senior Cup – both are great competitions and that’s credit to Suffolk FA for all their hard work; fingers crossed I can lead my new Henley side out in a final at the end of May.”

Henley Athletic (red shirts) bowed out of the Suffolk Senior Cup at the quarter-final stage last season 4-3 on penalties to Bungay Town (sky blue shirts) after a 1-1 draw.