Needham Market Under-18's advanced to a fourth Suffolk U18 Midweek Cup Semi Final in we many seasons, following a 3-0 victory over Lowestoft Town.
Needham (3') went close after some great play, Kellen Fiddy headed away a long ball forward to Evan Gledhill to expertly wrap a great ball round the corner to James Coton racing free down the right to pick out Flynn Bobby with an excellent cross whose far post close range header glanced just wide of the top far corner.
Flynn Bobby (11') broke the deadlock for the hosts, curling a cracking strike into the top right-hand far corner from 20-yards out.
The visiting keeper (13') was then on hand to deny a close range effort, while Needham went close again soon after (16').
Flynn Bobby was fed smartly by Charlie Smy onto the left-hand byline whose brilliant cutback just missed by James Coton lurking free at the back post.
Another dangerous Bobby low driven cutback on the left-hand side (19') caused havoc, this time falling to the onrushing Charlie Smy who blazed his shot over.
The young Marketmen (23') however hit the post, Kell Fiddy picked out James Coton with a brilliant left-footed diagonal cross-field ball out on the right wing, whose low inviting squared ball in the centre was poked onto the inside base of the left-hand post, cannoning into the grateful gloves of the keeper.
Gledhill (28') went close again, after holding the ball up well just outside the young Trawlerboys' box the striker fed Coton on the right wing whose clever cross was headed just wide of the top far corner by Gledhill.
Coton (33') was threaded through by Hopkins at close range, albeit his low shot was blocked away by the diving keeper, while Bobby's (34') low left wing cross was shot back across by Coton to be denied while a follow up fierce goal-bound volleyed strike from Hopkins was headed off the line.
Gledhill (41') did find the net, after a low ball released Coton down the right wing to wrap an excellent low cross into the striker to turn home into the bottom left-hand corner, only for the offside flag to be up against the number 19.
The striker (42') was then slipped free one on one,only for his low strike to be beaten away by the stopper, low to his left, as Coton's follow up strike was deflected over for a corner.
The set-piece on saw an overhead kick effort blocked, although Gledhill (45') did deservey double the hosts advantage.
Coton was once more threaded through down the right wing whose low fantastic ball across to Gledhill was fired home off the underside of the crossbar.
Bobby (45'+2') curled an excellent 25-yard strike just wide of the top near corner as the half-time whistle went to conclude a great first half from the home side.
Luke Betts' side added a quick third after the restart (48'), Bobby was expertly threaded through down the left wing to cross low for Gledhill to turn home into the bottom left-hand corner.
Gledhill (50') curled narrowly over from distance, before Lowestoft (51') fired over from long range.
Fiddy (56') then blocked Upton's fierce strike after a dangerous cutback, though the forward fired over from the rebound.
Coton meanwhile (57') weaved into space from the right wing into a central area outside the area, only to shoot low and tamely at the keeper.
Needham remained on the front foot, Coton's surging run down the right wing (61') found Vieira whose strike was blocked.
Luca Upton (62') volleyed a right wing corner over from the far post, prior to Gledhill (64') blocking a clearance narrowly wide of the right-hand post for a goal-kick.
Bowman (67') excellent blocked a left wing cross behind for a corner, as Oscar Wakeling (72') saw a close range far post strike smothered away well by the keeper after a great left wing low cross from Bobby having beaten the keeper to the ball.
Wakeling (75') then picked out Coton driving into the area, but the goalkeeper advanced smartly to intercept.
Gledhill (76') was fed on the left wing overlap whose tight angled shot was palmed away by the keeper as Wakeling's follow up shot was blocked.
Charlie Skinner (80') strongly beat away a right wing dangerous cross, ahead of Ashton Blogg (85') heading a right wing cross wide of the right-hand post.
Vieira (92') was offside after he turned home Gledhill's pass at close range, as Needham advanced to the semi-finals.
James Coton reflected on the Under-18's win over Lowestoft Town.
DK: A good win in the cup, you must be pleased?
JC: Yeah, buzzing. I think all the boys worked really hard. I thought it was really good out there. We killed them off in the first half and got the job done.
DK: A very professional performance from you and the lads tonight?
JC: Yeah, I thought, myself, I thought it was good. I delivered good balls, early balls into the box. That's what I've been working on. I thought it was a good performance from all the boys. We worked well together and, yeah, got the job done.
DK: A nice assist for you for the second goal as well?
JC: Yeah, I mean, Kel found me well. We knew that that dag was on all the time. I had the space out there, and it was just a first-time ball into Ev, and I know he put some away. So, yeah, it's good.
DK: Two wins now from retaining this cup, which must mean a lot to you.
JC: Yeah, I mean, it means a lot to all the boys. We want to go on and win it again. That's our cup, and I think a few of the lads reckon that's at Portman Road. So we want to get there, as most of the lads support town. So that would be buzzing. We'd be buzzing to get there. And, yeah, hopefully we retain it.
DK: Having won it at Colchester last year, does it make it even more important to still be in it now?
JC: Yeah, 100%.I mean, when you're the holders, you want to set, you know, over the last two years, we're probably, I mean, like all the boys, we're a really good group. And I think we deserve to go on and win it twice. And we want to make history for the club as well.
DK: Next up, the Reserves are at home to Diss on Saturday. Another tough game?
JC: Yeah, a really tough game. A big, big game down the bottom. You know, we need the points. They need the points. We'll give everything to get the three points.
And, yeah, hopefully we'll win.
Goals: Flynn Bobby (11'), Evan Gledhill (45', 48')
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