Reserves 4 Brantham Athletic Reserves 1

The Reserves reached the Suffolk Senior Cup semi-finals for the first time ever as they disposed of a hard working Brantham Athletic Reserves side. The Reserves started the game brightly and away keeper Stewart Hunt punched an early Jac Garrard corner away to safety, before the former saved easily from James Gaffer. Paris Tuwizana put over after a goal mouth scramble and Josh Cheetham had Leiston’s next chance after a good array of passing unlocked the visiting defence, but his shot was straight at Hunt. Ben Snowling had a shot deflected wide, while Paris Tuwizana was foiled by the legs of Hunt. Leiston opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when Matt Rutterford’s run on the right flank saw him get to the byline and centre to Jac Garrard, who controlled well and smashed right footed into Hunt’s bottom right hand corner. Will Oxbrow was well off target as he tried a shot from distance and after Jac Garrard delivered a good ball from the left hand side, Tuwizana fired over from close range. Alfie Norman headed Jac Garrard’s corner over the crossbar as Leiston were dominating, but Brantham had their first shot on goal when the lively Dan Rowe struck on the edge of the area but Charlie Beckwith was equal to his effort. Jac Garrard played a one-two from a corner and narrowly hit his shot wide and he had Leiston’s last chance of the half but struck straight at Hunt.

Just two minutes into the second period, Jac Garrard’s miskick fell to Paris Tuwizana but he was again thwarted by Hunt. However, the Blues deservedly went further in front as Matt Rutterford’s cross from the left was only parried by Hunt as far as Josh Cheetham and he prodded home to settle the home nerves. Josh Cheetham was fouled a minute later but Jac Garrard was off target with his set piece. Brantham were trying their upmost to get back into the game but it was Leiston who netted the next goal again as Ben Snowling’s cross from the left hand side was met well by Matt Rutterford and he scored via the post. In the 76th minute, Brantham pulled a goal back as Will Oxbrow’s back pass let in Dan Rowe who rounded Charlie Beckwith to steer into an empty net. Substitute Louie Bloom found space to force Stewart Hunt into a save to his right hand side and minutes later tried an audacious volley from long range that sailed over the crossbar. Jac Garrard and sub Kyle Cassell had more chances that came to no avail, but James Gaffer wrapped the match up when in the 91st minute he headed home Jac Garrard’s corner to seal Leiston’s place in the semi-finals. The Reserves will now play Bungay Town in the last four, with the match set to take place at Beccles Town on Saturday 10th March with a 2.30pm kick off time.

FT - Reserves 4 Brantham Athletic Reserves 1

Leiston Reserves - Beckwith, Groom, Snowling, Bell, Gaffer, Norman, Garrard, Oxbrow (Mansfield 88 mins), Cheetham (Bloom 77 mins), Rutterford, Tuwizana (Cassell 77 mins). Subs not used - McGuckin and Seaber.

Brantham Athletic Reserves - Hunt, Aikens, Pepper, Eldridge, Oliver Brown, Wood, Johnson, Cunnell (Puling 68 mins), Andrews (Davies 57 mins), Selwyn, Rowe. Subs not used - Nnadi, Andrew Brown and Bertram.

Man of the Match - Jac Garrad

Attendance - 47