Henley Athletic 1 Reserves 1 (Reserves win 5-4 on penalties)

The Reserves won their first ever match in the Suffolk Senior Cup after winning 5-4 on penalties against Henley Athletic. They progress to the Third Round after the match finished all square at full time. 

The game got off to a quick start and after just a minute the hosts could have taken the lead. Danny George got in behind the Leiston defence but Charlie Beckwith parried the ball away to safety. Armani Schaar had an effort deflected wide before Kevin Inglis’ close range free kick went over the bar. Clark Bruce got through on goal shortly after however the assistant flagged for offside. Louie Bloom had a great chance but he lobbed over home keeper Holland’s bar. Josh Cheetham had a strike from the edge of the area and Louie Bloom had a header that was cleared off the line from a corner. Toby Groom and Niki Shopov had chances that came to nothing and then Clark Bruce got through on goal but was denied by Charlie Beckwith’s right hand post with Tom Mansfield doing well to clear the ball out for a corner. Bruce was denied again by a smart Beckwith save while Mark Storey and Aaron Sheppard both had efforts that were wide of the target.  

The first chance of the second half fell to Henley with Clark Bruce’s cross put onto the post by Leiston defender Tom Mansfield. Henley took the lead in the 54th minute when after a neat move down the right, a pass found Clark Bruce who made no mistake to rifle past Charlie Beckwith. Henley could have doubled their lead when a corner was met by the head of Aaron Sheppard but Niki Shopov cleared off the line. Seth Dugzon’s delivery was well punched by Beckwith and then with Leiston first real attempt in the second period Josh Cheetham saw his strike pushed away by Kevin Holland. Holland was on hand to also take care of shots from Niki Shopov and Armani Schaar. Josh Cheetham was caught offside when well placed in front of goal but Leiston levelled minutes later. Kevin Holland did well to punch away a corner but the ball back into the box was met by Armani Schaar who connected well to see his strike blocked by a defender and see it go in off the unfortunate Holland. Louie Bloom squandered an opportunity just moments later as he put his effort over the bar. Charlie Beckwith had to stay alert to deny Clark Bruce, while Sheppard headed wide again as the game was heading towards penalties. Tom Mansfield’s back pass bobbled over Charlie Beckwith but he got back well and managed to clear. Both sides saw the match out and with no extra time, it was straight to penalties. 

FT - Henley Athletic 1 Leiston Reserves 1

Leiston progressed 5-4 in the penalty shoot-out. The successful scorers were Kevin Inglis, Louie Bloom, Blake Saker, James Gaffer and Armani Schaar with Charlie Beckwith saving three spot kicks, one being re-taken.

Henley Athletic - Holland, Behnemia (Bevis 80 mins), White, Duzgun, Storey, Sheppard, Tejano, Field, Bruce, George, Jackson.
Subs not used - Smythe and Curren. 

Leiston Reserves - Beckwith, Groom, Shopov, Saker, Gaffer, Mansfield, Garrard (Seaber 69 mins), Inglis, Bloom, Schaar, Cheetham. Sub not used - Murphy.

Man of the Match - Charlie Beckwith

Attendance - 88