Mutford & Wrentham 1 v 2 Stowupland Falcons

Bank Holiday Monday 31st May 2021, Kick-off 15.00

Suffolk Junior Cup Final

The New Croft, Haverhill

Admission: £3.00

Programme: None

Attendance: 200 (estimate)

By the time the celebrations following the Suffolk Senior Cup Final had finally died down, there would be less than an hour until this Junior Cup Final would begin at The New Croft. Just about the right time  to take on some sustenance to refuel in the middle of long afternoon in the sun.

When their league campaigns were curtailed, Mutford & Wrentham were in second place in the Anglian Combination Division Four, following nine wins and a defeat from their ten league games, whilst Stowupland Falcons were in fourth place in the Suffolk & Ipswich League Division One, following four wins and a drawn from their nine league games. To reach today's final, Mutford & Wrentham had beaten Cockfield United 5-2 at home, Wickham Market away on penalties after a 1-1 draw, Thurston 3-0 at home, Kirton Athletic 0-3 away, before beating Brandon Town 3-2 on neutral territory in the semi-final. Stowupland Falcons had beaten Ufford Sports 1-2 away, AFC Kesgrave 1-2 away, Saxmundham Sports 2-0 at home, and then Sporting 87 2-1 in the semi-final.

With the warm sunshine continuing throughout this afternoon, although with a pleasant cooling breeze, the first half was an even affair, with Stowupland having the first major chance on 19 minutes when, following a corner, Craig Simpson headed just wide at the far post. But on 27 minutes, it was Mutford & Wrentham who took the lead when Jordan Gissing drilled a free kick from right on the edge of the box into the bottom left hand corner. As the first half entered added on time, Stowupland got back on level terms following a long punt downfield by the keeper went just over a defender's head and into the path of Blake Richards, who ran on before playing the ball diagonally towards the far post, for Ryan Rampley to tap the ball home just before the covering defenders could get there.

The second half saw Mutford & Wrentham do much of the attacking, Harley Thompson forcing the keeper into an excellent tip over the bar on 57 minutes, whilst several other shots were well gathered by the keeper. But after they looked the more likely to go on to win the cup, and then it looking increasingly inevitable that a penalty shoot-out would be required to settle the tie, Stowupland Falcons dramatically found the back of the net in the secod minute of added on time, when a long throw in was flicked on, and then headed in at the far post by Craig Lockwood, The remaining couple of minutes of added on time were seen out quite comfortably, to ensure that it was Stowupland Falcons who would lift the Suffolk Junior Cup for the first time in their history.

This proved a most enjoyable day, with a relaxed atmosphere around the ground, enthusiastic support for all teams involved, and the organisation at the gate, at the refreshment outlets and around the ground ensured the day passed smoothly and enjoyably.

The Teams

Mutford & Wrentham: Tony Baxter, Morgan Jones, Jamie Besford, Jordan Gissing, Jarred Blake, Chris Healey, Ryan Grimmer, Callum Jones, Ryan Davies, Harley Thompson, Ollie Hall. Used subs: Sam Clabburn, Jordan Duncan, Sam Atkins, Nelson Corinhas.

Stowupland Falcons: Dale Watling, Aston White, Sam Bobby, Ryan Titlow, Luke Ranson, Dale Nibloe, Callum Lee, Blake Richards, Craig Simpson, Ryan Rampley, Craig Lockwood. Used subs: Ki Patey, Bryn Blower, Jack Minns, Joe Chalk, Rueben Bailey.

Referee: Matt Oakley.

An excellent video of describing the game and featuring highlights by fellow groundhopper Deejam can be viewed by clicking here.

Bildeston Rangers 0 v 2 Lakenheath

Bank Holiday Monday 31st May 2021, Kick-off 12.00

Suffolk Senior Cup Final

The New Croft, Haverhill

Admission: £6.00

Programme: None

Attendance: 300 (estimate)

With hardly any games available locally for me today, and certainly none at a previously unvisited ground, I headed up to Suffolk for a double of cup finals, with this game having the appeal of featuring an underdog from Step 7, who had already defeated last year's winners in their run to the final, up against a team heading up to Step 5 for next season.

Suffolk FA County Cup Finals are usually held at Portman Road, however with Ipswich Town not being able to make their ground available this year, in order to give their pitch adequate recovery time, today's finals took place on the main grass pitch at The New Croft, home of Eastern Counties League Premier Division outfit Haverhill Rovers. Situated about half a mile uphill from Haverhill town centre, The New Croft is part of a large complex consisting of five junior pitches, a 3G caged pitch which hosts Eastern Counties League football as the home ground of Haverhill Borough, and the main grass pitch, on which today's games would be played. A fair sized car park is available along the front of the complex, and entrance to the ground is via a turnstile block which brings spectators into the ground along one length, to a large patio area with many picnic tables spread in front of the complex's main hub which houses, amongst other things, a bar and a hatch to the front where hot and cold food and drinks could be purchased. A modern all-seater stand straddles the half way line on the same side, with just hard standing available around the rest of the ground, save for a small grey metallic stand covering steps to stand on behind one of the goals. The ground has a spacious feel to it, with plenty of grass between the pitchside hard standing and the perimeter fencing along the other length and behind one of the goals. This was an all-ticket fixture, with tickets needing to be bought online and shown at the gate, and rather surprisingly for a prestigious County Cup final, no programmes were produced for today, not even an online version.

Lakenheath had the opportunity to top off what has proved to be a very successful season for them, having recently been awarded promotion to the Eastern Counties League Premier Division for next season, along with three other clubs from Division One North, after three seasons (two of those curtailed) playing at Step 6 level. They were in fourth place when this season was curtailed, having won seven and drawn one of their ten league games. In this competition open to Suffolk based clubs in various Step 6 and 7 leagues, Lakenheath won 0-2 at Felixstowe & Walton Reserves, of the Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier Division, and then defeated Suffolk & Ipswich Senior Division outfit Haughley United on penalties after a 1-1 draw, Beccles Town, of the Anglian Combination Premier Division, 4-2 at home, and finally fellow Eastern Counties Division One North outfit Framlingham Town 4-1 in the semi-final at the neutral venue of AFC Sudbury. Today would be Lakenheath’s third appearance in the final, having won the competition in the 2014/15 season. Bildeston Rangers have only been playing at Step 7 level for the last two seasons, in the Suffolk & Ipswich League Senior Division, and were in third place when this season was curtailed, following six wins and a draw from their ten league games. In their route to today's cup final appearance, their first three opponents all came from the Suffolk & Ipswich League Senior Division, starting with a 1-0 win at home to Capel Plough, then dispatching Ransomes Sports 2-3 away and Trimley Red Devils 0-2 away, before pulling off what was probably the shock of this season’s competition in the semi-finals, beating Eastern Counties League Division One North outfit and reigning cup holders Ipswich Wanderers 2-0.

On a gloriously warm and sunny early afternoon, the tone for the game was set in the very first minute, when Lakenheath had their first shot on target, a powerful drive gathered by the keeper. In the fourth minute, a curling shot from the edge of the area forced the Bildeston keeper to tip the ball over the bar, and Lakenheath would go on to have most of the possession, and most of the chances, throughout the first half, but just couldn't put the ball in the net, with shots going either off target, straight at the keeper, or forcing the keeper into decent saves. Bildeston battled well though, and certainly looked a threat on the break or with long balls launched forwards, but the scoreline remained goalless at the break, with very much all to play for.

The second half followed a very similar pattern to the first, perhaps unsurprisingly, with Lakenheath creating some really good chances, but still their efforts were either off target, straight at the keeper, hit the crossbar once, or increasingly drawing some good saves from the visiting keeper, Charlie de Lara-Bell, who was having an excellent game in keeping his side in the game. Still Bildeston were looking a threat when they managed to get forward though, and the game really could have gone either way, but finally Lakenheath found the back of the net just a minute from the end of regular time. Substitute Kevin Enaro gathered the ball just in his own half before taking it down the left wing and into the penalty area, evading a couple of defenders before crossing to the far post, for Tom Thurlborn to head home from six yards out. It was a crushing blow for the underdogs, but far from throwing in the towel, they came very close to forcing penalties in the third minute of added on time when a corner was swung in and hit the crossbar, and the loose ball was scrambled clear, and with the Bildeston keeper having come up for the penalty, the ball was worked to Thurlborn, who attempted a flighted shot at goal from the half way line, but the ball dropped onto the roof of the empty net. Lakenheath made absolutely sure of the win in the 95th minute when the ball fell to Enaro who ran clear down the left before calmly slotting the ball low across the keeper and into the net.

This was a highly entertaining and intriguing game to watch, and although Lakenheath certainly deserved to lift the trophy, looking more threatening throughout, Bildeston deserve enormous praise for a battling performance, more than holding their own against very strong and confident opposition who will be playing two steps higher than them next season, and with a bit more luck, the result could well have gone in their favour. 

Teams:

Bildeston Rangers: Charlie de-Lara-Bell, Alfie Smith, Sam Sharp, Trev Vinyard (sub Dale Munson, 90+5 mins), Tim Rix, Shane Wanmer, David Lorimer, Daryl Alexander, Chris Cowan (sub Kalum Benham, 86 mins), Lloyd Dodsworth, Nathan Styles (sub George Buxton, 50 mins). Unused subs: Stu Brooks, Ben Goodchild.

Lakenheath: Charlie Beckwith, Finley Logan, Alex McIntosh, Sam Hawley, Casey Underwood, Scott Callaghan, Ryan Weaver (sub Rhys Mazey, 83 mins), Reece Clarke, Shaun Avis, Tom Thulborn, Kaine Manels (sub Kelvin Enaro, 59 mins). Unused subs: Evan Banks, Teddy Webber.

Referee: Chay Hathway.

Video highlights of this match can be viewed by clicking on the following link 

Merrow 1 v 1 Guildford United

Guildford United won 2-1 on penalties

Saturday 29th May 2021, Kick-off 15.00

Surrey Elite Intermediate League Cup Semi-Final

Laleham Recreation Ground, Laleham

Admission and Programme: None

Attendance: 25 (approximate)

When I set out from home this morning, I was heading for a double in Metropolitan Essex. But when I noticed that the kick-off for the second game was brought forward so that the games would overlap, leaving a choice between a ground I had already visited three times (Redbridge) and last day of the season game with nothing riding on it at Sungate, I changed direction and headed for the outer fringe of south-west London instead, for a much more appealing looking fixture, and at a venue I missed out on visiting whilst it hosted Step 6 football.

This fixture took place at the home of Staines Lammas, which hosted Combined Counties League football up until 2018, when the club was inevitably demoted to the Surrey Elite Intermediate League for ground grading reasons alone. The most direct walking route from Staines station is about two miles, taking just over half an hour, the route I followed homebound, but on my way to the ground, I walked a very pleasant route mostly along the River Thames, including a walk around the uninhabited wooded island of Penton Hook. The three and a half mile walk took just over an hour in total. The Recreation Ground is located just behind the hight street of Laleham village, down a short lane which opens out into a car park. To the left of the entrance is the modern and pavilion clubhouse, the Lucan Pavilion, which is has a decent range of drinks on offer, and an outside patio and grass area with plenty of tables and chairs, and is enclosed with low wooden fencing. It made for a very pleasant place indeed to enjoy a pre-match pint. The senior football pitch is located beyond the clubhouse and is railed along three sides, with the unrailed length closely lined by trees. The end opposite the clubhouse is also lined by trees, whilst behind the remaining length is the rest of the playing fields of the recreation ground. There are no floodlights nor stands currently, hence the demotion for Staines Lammas into Step 7 football, however plans along with permission are in place for these, and Staines Lammas are now trying hard to raise the £30,000 required to unlock the necessary funding grants to proceed with the necessary upgrades.

Merrow topped the table in the Surrey Elite Intermediate League when it was curtailed, following seven wins and two defeats from their nine league games, while Guildford were down in ninth place,  after two wins and a draw from their six league games. In this competition, Merrow won 5-0 at home to AFC Spelthorne Sports, and then 6-2 against NPL,  also played at the Laleham Recreation Ground. Guildford United only entered this competition in the quarter finals, where they beat Battersea Ironsides 3-0 at home. Merrow have had the better of the encounters between the two clubs this season, winning 3-4 away in the curtailed league season in December, and in the Inter League B competition, Merrow won 1-3, also away, at the beginning of May.

Following week after week since lockdown of cold/wet/windy weather requiring several layers and/or waterproofs, it made for a lovely change that the weather was glorious today, mostly sunny and warm, with temperatures nudging into the 20's Guildford did most of the attacking in the first half, so it was something of a surprise when Merrow opened the scoring on 10 minutes with pretty much their first attack, the ball was chased down the left to the byline, was pulled back and tapped low past the keeper from close range. Their lead was to only last a couple of minutes though. A pass in the penalty area took a deflection to find a team mate, who saw his shot parried, but the loose ball was struck home from a fairly tight angle. After that quick flurry of goals, the game then settled down as the teams got tighter in their play, and the scoreline remained level at the break. 

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with Guildford doing the majority of the attacking, forcing the Merrow keeper into a couple of smart saves, although Merrow themselves certainly looked to have a goal in them. Yet there was no further scoring in the second half, and unusually for this Covid affected season, the game went to extra time rather than straight to penalties.

The first half passed without much threat of a goal, but the second half of extra time saw Merrow really push for a winner, and five minutes in they saw a header crash back off the bar,. Guildford did have the last decent chance in the final minute, but shortly after the referee blew the final whistle, and so penalties were required to decide who would proceed to the final.

Amazingly, not one of the first five penalties in the shoot out were converted. Guildford saw their first three penalties all saved by the keeper, whilst Merrow's first two hit the woodwork, first against the bar, and then the left post. But they did score their third, off the inside of the right hand post, to seemingly put them in pole position. Guildford scored their fourth, although the keeper came so close to pulling off his fourth consecutive save, getting a hand to the ball but not enough to keep it out. Then Merrow saw their fourth penalty saved, to create a sudden death situation on the fifth penalties. Guildford scored theirs emphatically into the roof of the net, but Guildford's keeper saved Merrow's fifth, low down to his left, to send his team into the final, which they just about deserved on the day.