Yet another 100% week-end for Achilles with, after careful assessment, Shaun Deller's Inter As taking "Pride of Place" through the team's 3-2 win in the Gipping Press Cup at Bramford Inter Bs' place in the village. Meanwhile, the Seniors maintained their fine run with a similar 3-2 win, and their 5 point cushion at the top of the SIL Senior Division, against a valiant Coplestonians unit at Salmet Close.
The Inter As are, of course, current holders of the Gipping Press Cup but there was a certain amount of trepidation about the visit to a Club which is very much on the up and up with both of their reams in second place in the SIL 1st Division and Inter B League respectively. As it was the outcome was relatively easy with the host's second goal coming from a penalty literally on time. Ten minutes earlier and it might have been a problem! The win was meritorious in that Shaun had a few injuries to contend with but goals from Marc Rowell, Gavin Vince and Grant Barrett saw the lads through to the next round.
Meanwhile, at Salmet Close, there really could have been a shock result with Cops' looking a much better outfit than their League position would suggest. Ben Taylor signalled his return with an early typical opportunist effort but Cops' equalised just before the break after a fine move and finish. Early in the second period a rather fortunate "og", involving Keiron Donovan (not Dyer!!!) put Achilles ahead but poor defending gifted Cops, nevertheless, a fine headed equaliser but, almost on time, Asst Manager Gary Bartlett's introduction of Ricky Deasy saw the latter notching the winner with his first touch.
This coming Saturday, just one match, the SCFA Quarter Final tie against Eastern Counties Leaguers, Debenham LC, sponsored by our "landlords" Pauls Sports & Social Club. Finally, an important notice that the Annual Xmas Draw will now be held at 7 30pm on Monday 30th December still at Pauls. All welcome.
Another good week-end for Achilles with the Seniors, at home, beating Old Newton United 3-2 in a hard-fought, close, match, while the Inter As, at Gainsborough Sports Centre, had an easier passage via a 4 -1 score-line against the Inter As of Ipswich Valley Rangers. The Seniors' win led to an impressive five point advantage at the top of the SIL Senior Division, while the Inter As changed places once again at the top of the Inter A table with close competitors, Old Newton Inter As, dropping points. The Seniors game was another ding-dong affair with Old Newton looking much better than their lowly league position would suggest. Although Keiron Donovan put us ahead after just one minute it was Old Newton who first equalised on the half hour and then went ahead immediately after the break; both goals coming from suspect defending. However, the introduction of all three Achilles' subs, including the return from injury of Jack Wilkinson, who then proceeded to score twice in rapid succession, secured all three points. It was hard to deny Old Newton a draw, at least, but the Achillian spirit brought, finally, those three precious points. Hard to deny the suggestion that Keiron was, once again, our "man of the match" but, in those last crucial minutes, mention too for Jason Bones who made two or more superb saves.
Meanwhile, the 4-1 win at Gainsborough for the Inter As was a fair while coming with the scores level at the break but a late flurry secured three more valuable points. Marksmen were Tom Deller (2), Gavin Vince and Marc Rowell.
This coming Saturday the Seniors welcome Coplestonians to Salmet Close while the Inter As continue their attempt to retain the Gipping Press Cup in their visit to the Inter Bs of Bramford United. The following Saturday, 7th December, the Seniors entertain Eastern Counties Leaguers, Debenham LC (1 30pm ko) in the quarter finals of the Suffolk Senior Cup.
Away from the park a reminder that all the books are in circulation for the Lucky Xmas Draw to be held at Pauls' from 7 30 pm on Sunday 22nd December. Prize donations would be gratefully received for this fund-raising event. Finally, recent 100 Club winners were Numbers: 2 and 15, Steve Chambers and Peter Crossley respectively.