Achilles 3 - 4 East Bergholt United (Aet) Bob Coleman Cup 6/1/18
An evenly contested goalless first half gave no clues to the drama to follow.
Bergholt took the lead through a Ross Cooper penalty on 50 minutes after Achilles keeper Josh Hender had fouled in the penalty area. Referee Stuart Franklin was left with no choice but to send Hender off. Kyle Jay doubled Bergholt’s lead minutes later as Achilles’ reorganised side failed to clear. 10 man Achilles looked dead and buried even after veteran defender Sean Bell had pulled one back from a corner, but with time running out a wonder strike on the turn by Matt McCarthy flew into the top corner to take the game to extra time.
Bergholt were making the extra man count and Ben Yates put them ahead again on 100 minutes. Back came Achilles. Ivan Buxton turned sharply and prodded the ball into the corner beyond Gary Hammond. Home celebrations lasted just 4 minutes, the winner coming from the head of Yates to see East Bergholt into the next round.
