Club Notes 18th January 2016

Not the happiest of week-ends for Achilles with the Seniors dropping two home points against Haughley United, albeit in a sparkling match, while the Inter As were beaten 3-2 after extra time down the road by near neighbours Ipswich Athletic in the SIL Goals in Ipswich Cup (a trophy Achilles currently hold under previous sponsors, Gipping Press).

As mentioned, the home game was quite a treat for a goodly crowd, considering the home ITFC game not far away. The facts are quite simple - we enjoyed the balance of play in the first half but despite several efforts at goal the only mark-up was a confidently taken penalty by top marksman, Liam Hillyard. The early and middle stages of the second period saw Haughley in command although there was little bother on the home goal until a well placed free-kick was headed home for the equaliser. We came back into the game in the later period and there were several scares for our visitors who, nevertheless, held on for a deserved point.

Meanwhile, down the road at Bourne Vale, the Inter As were hit by three or four (genuine) call-offs against their Inter B opponents but this no excuse for the less than top form display and, truth to tell, Achilles were always on the back foot although matters, perhaps, looked brighter when a likely 2-1 reverse was overcome for the match to go into extra time. Alas, this made little difference, and the homesters made it 3-2 to go deservedly into the next round.

Next Saturday (23rd) the Seniors are in League action away at Wenhaston and the following Saturday (30th) are away at Felixstowe Harpers United in the next round of the SIL Bob Coleman League Cup. At home (on the 23rd) the Inter As have a chance to redeem themselves when the visitors are the Reserves of Eastern Counties League table-toppers, Felixsowe & Walton Utd., in the quarter final of the SFA Senior Reserves Cup. The following Saturday (30th) East Bergholt Inter As will be our visitors.