Club Notes 3rd February 2019

Mixed blessings for Achilles yesterday with the Seniors "grinding out" a 1-0 win against hosts, Halesworth Town, in the quarter final of the SIL Bob Coleman League Cup encounter, while the Reserves, having convincingly beaten their Westerfield Utd opponents in the SIL Travel Plus Cup in their last match, surprisingly lost 4-1 at home to a much better prepared squad this time.

Although Halesworth are in the SIL 2nd Division, they had already beaten two Senior clubs in earlier rounds of the Bob Coleman Cup, and with, reputedly, several players from senior club, Wenhaston Utd, in their squad they promised to be daunting opponents for the Senior League leaders.

Early play didn't suggest this and a fine effort by Gavin Van Oene put Achilles ahead after some 10 minutes or so. For a while Achilles were the only side "in it" and could have made the situation safe well before the break. As it was the homesters, urged on by a fervent support, came more into the game without, however, really upsetting the Achilles' defence.

Aided by a bitter wind from the north east, however, our hosts came much more into the second half proceedings although, really, Danny Crump between the sticks was not really troubled. The final ten minutes, however, was difficult for the Senior League leaders with Halesworth throwing all caution to the wind and, in particular, Halesworth's top scorer missed a close chance to send the match into extra time but it wasn't to be for the ambitious hosts and our Seniors now proceed into the semi-final for a (reputed) tie against old rivals, Crane Sports.

Cup action again this Saturday with the Seniors hosting fellow SIL competitors, Westerfield Utd, in the Suffolk FA Senior Cup. At this point there is no news of a league match for the Reserves but they have been drawn at home for the semi-final of the SIL Travel Plus Cup against Framlingham Town Reserves on the 2nd March and this looks to be a potential "cracker" of a tie.