Felixstowe & Walton United FC

The Seasiders came away from Bloomfields, home of Needham Market FC, as triumphant winners, after lifting the Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup with a 2-0 victory over last year's holders Stowmarket Town, and who they had lost to just 16 days earlier in a league fixture.

A brace from leading scorer Harry Archer sealed the win but it could easily have been far more as the young reserves dictated the vast majority of the game. With the official attendance of 163, the lion's share of support (and noise) came from the fantastic Seasiders red & white army, who urged the lads on to a memorable win which encapsulated an excellent season, having gone from strength to strength under the guidance of Aren Howell and his touchline team.  

Kick off was delayed for 15 minutes (due to late arrivals) which upset the planning of the pre-match warm up, and early nerves played a part before both teams settled into the game.

It didn't take long for the Seasiders to take the game to Stowmarket. Shane Forbes was unlucky not to get more joy from his effort and man of the match Joe Allum forced a goal line clearance from Archer's in swinging corner.

Lewis Owen fed Lewis Smy for a run on goal but just saw his effort blocked by keeper Ben Hicks, Lee Burns and Archer combined to set Lewis Main but his effort was eventually cleared.

Stowmarket grew into the game but produced little in the way of clear cut chances, only one effort of note, shooting just wide of Ben Punter's right hand post. The Seasiders back four once again proving very difficult to break down, well organised and Joe Allum a tower of strength shining through, winning just about everything in the air. 

Archer should have been on the scoresheet in the opening moments of the second period, finding room in the box, but dragged his effort just wide, but he made no mistake with the next opportunity.  Owen providing the ball to Joe Hunt whose sublime pass to Archer allowed him to cut back inside to score at the near post beyond the helpless Hicks.

Before you could blink Felixstowe doubled their lead and thanks again to Archer.  Smy gathered the ball down the right hand side, held the ball up, played it back to Macaulay Howell whose superb right foot cross found Archer's head at the back post to squirm through Hicks' hands and over the line.

The Seasiders didn't want to rest on their laurels and changes were made to keep the team fresh, 16 year old Jake Preston's introduction nearly led to the third,  Hunt found Preston who couldn't keep the ball down as he ran through on goal and Hunt himself must have been baffled how his superb header was matched by a brilliant one handed save from Stowe’s ‘keeper Hicks.    

Stowmarket, to their credit pushed back but once again offered little in front of goal although Ben Punter was forced to parry one effort which was then cleared off the line by Howell, but every time the Seasiders gathered the ball and moved it forward quickly, the lads caused disarray across Stowmarket's defence. 

Added time seemed to last an eternity as the Seasiders' faithful watched, but a huge roar and massive celebrations, with one big team bundle greeted the final whistle. Reserves Captain Sam Segger and Lewis Owen, who was second half captain, lifted the cup together to bring the trophy home for the first time in 11 years.   

A fantastic season for the reserves, huge congratulations to the lads and management of Aren Howell, Alex Egelton, Stuart Stevenson and Dean Porter. 

The reserves will hopefully be competing in the Thurlow Nunn Division One (North) which will be a huge new challenge that they will be relishing as they replace the first team at Thurlow Nunn Senior Level.

Well Done Lads!

The cup and medals were presented by Suffolk FA Chief Executive Richard Neal. The Felixstowe players and management team are pictured celebrating above. Photograph courtesy of Paul Voller.

Felixstowe & Walton Utd: Ben Punter, Macaulay Howell, Will Ransom, Lee Burns, Lewis Owen, Joe Allum, Lewis Smy, Shane Forbes, Lewis Main, Sam Seggar, Harry Archer. Used subs: Jake Preston, Joe Hunt, Rory Porter. Unused subs: Ryan Garnham, Josh Horton.

Stowmarket Town: Ben Hicks, Dan McLaughlin, James Ingham, Jerome Primus, Craig Brown, Will Adams-Newton, Ash Holmes, Josh Capocci, Ben Smith, James Storey, Hawri Abdulrahman. Used subs: Finn Carrington, Joe Tricker. Unused sub: James Graham.

Referee: Ken Reeves.

Attendance: 163.