Needham Market Under-18's reached a third straight Suffolk U18 Midweek Cup Final, following a 4-0 victory over Woodbridge Town at Ipswich Wanderers.
The holders struck twice in 3 minutes, first Evan Gledhill met Flynn Bobby's corner, before James Coton latched onto the rebound from Bobby's free-kick to turn home a second on 21 minutes.
Coton thundered home his second and Needham's third ten minutes later, prior to Charlie Smy netting a late fourth to round off a solid evening for the young Reds.
Charlie Smy (10') weaved into space before shooting over from distance, in a fairly even start to the game.
At the other end (16'), an excellent save from Charlie Skinner - who flew high to his left, stretching his arm superbly to tip the striker's shot behind.
Woodbridge (17') headed ovver from point blank range from the resulting corner, as a brilliant ball across goal was intercepted for a Needham corner up the other end.
Evan Gledhill headed the Marketmen in front from the following set-piece (18'), expertly meeting Flynn Bobby's pinpoint delivery to bullet head home into the roof of the net.
In quick-fire fashion, Needham doubled their lead 3 minutes later - Bobby's long range free-kick was on target, which the keeper spilled out for James Coton to turn home the loose ball.
Clever play saw Coton (31') added a third, and his second, after the attacker's close range shot was deflected just wide from Bobby's brilliant low cross from distance, the former latches onto the loose ball to rifle a half-volley into the roof of the net.
Woodbridge (40') went close to pulling to a goal back, half-volleying just over from close range after Skinner parried away a cross.
Skinner (45') was again forced into another excellent stop, flying high to his left to beat a shot away.
Needham appeals for a penalty (45'+1') were waved away as a shot went just wide of the bottom far corner, with Bobby curling a great effort from the left-hand edge of the box (45'+4') at goal, prompting a deflection to turn it narrowly wide, as Luke Betts' side led 3-0 at the break.
After the break, Coton's (50') ferocious strike from 20-yards out was beaten away by the keeper, ahead of Smy's (56') ferocious goal-bound strike from the left-hand edge of the box being inadvertently blocked by Olly Reynolds.
Smy (57') blazed agonisingly wide, before a great stop from the keeper (63') thwarted Gledhill from netting a brace.
The striker's stunning curling 30-yard free-kick looked destined to find the top right-hand corner until the keeper flew across to tip it over via the top of the crossbar.
While Skinner (67') was alert to tip away a dangerous right wing corner, Olly Bowman (68') swung an excellent spot-on rirght wing cross into Gledhill whose header was glanced just wide of the bottom far corner.
Coton (70') wrapped a good effort narrowly over from just outside the area, ahead of Olly Bowman smartly tracking his man to reduce the angle - with the resulting shot comfortably gathered by Skinner.
Woodbridge lashed a good strike narrowly wide, as Needham added a fourth (85').
Following great play, Brad Smith thread Harry Hopkins whose flick on slid Charlie Smy through onto the left-hand side, one-on-one with the keeper to cooly pick out the bottom right-hand corner.
A very good professional performance from Betts' side, who will face Leiston in the Final.
Needham:- 1 Charlie Skinner, 2 Olly Bowman (83' Grimmer), 3 Brad Smith, 4 Kellen Fiddy (C), 5 Olly Reynolds, 6 Charlie Smy, 7 Oscar Wakeling (65' Vieira), 8 Harry Hopkins, 10 James Coton, 11 Flynn Bobby (83' Tamila), 19 Evan Gledhill (77' Nunn). Subs: 9 Henry Vieira, 14 Zak Tamila, 15 Fenton Grimmer, 16 Jack Nunn, 17 Jake Bloom (GK).
Booked: Harry Hopkins (56'), Kell Fiddy (74')
Goals: Evan Gledhill (18'), James Coton (21', 31'), Charlie Smy (85').
Double goalscorer James Coton reflects on last night's victory.
DK: A great win tonight, how pleased are you?
JC: Yeah it was a really good which I am pleased with I really enjoy big games like that with the boys under the lights.
DK: Very professional performance, which must make it even more pleasing?
JC: Yeah it was a good performance not just from me but from everyone. Going in 3-0 at half time it was important that everyone remained professional and kept our foot on the gas and didn’t concede.
DK: Two goals in a semi-final, to add to your tally - two well taken finishes?
JC: Yeah it’s always nice to score in any game but go get two to help the team get through to the final makes it even more special.
DK: Having made the final last year, can you put into words how it feels to have done it again?
JC: Yeah it feels good to have made another final it was a target that we set ourselves at the start of the season to retain the cup and it is one that we are only one game from doing so we are all really happy with that and I am looking forward to playing in it.
DK: You must be proud of the season you've been having personally, scoring goals and getting recognised with apps in the first team?
JC: Yeah I am pleased with how the season has gone so far. Making appearances for the first team is something I am really proud of as I enjoy challenging myself at that level and it has been a good experience.
DK: As a close knit team, it must make what you've achieved as a team over the 12 months extra special?
JC: It does make it really special I love the environment that has been created at the academy by all the coaches and all the players I think it is the perfect balance of having fun and being hard working and professional I think that is why we have achieved so much as a group.
Goalkeeper Charlie Skinner discusses reaching the Final of the Suffolk U18 Midweek Cup.
DK: A very good performance to make the final, how proud are you?
CS: Yes very proud of all of the lads in what was a tough game at times but we kept going right till the end, I think we all agreed that it wasn’t are most pretty performance but shows what a good to team we are to get it over the line.
DK: Some big saves from you to keep a clean sheet, how nice is it to contribute in that way?
CS: Yes, it’s always nice to come away with a win but getting a clean sheet aswell just makes it that little bit sweeter for me and the team and it’s always nice for me and the defence to do our part when the forwards are doing there’s.
DK: Can you describe how easy or difficult it can be to keep switched on as a GK throughout in a semi-final?
CS: For me personally I find it easy to because of how important it is to keep switched on, anything can happen in games and they can be changed so quickly.
DK: After winning the cup last season, does it make it even better to make it back there this season?
CS: Definitely it feels so good to make it to another final with this group of players and going back to back finals just shows how well we play as a team and is a special feeling.
DK: As a goalkeeper, you're no doubt very pleased with your clean sheet record in cup competitions?
CS: Definitely yes I’m very happy with it and there’s no better feeling for a gk than to support your team in that way.
DK: Having missed out on parts of the season through injury, it must make it extra rewarding to make it to the Cup Final?
CS: Yes having missed very important games throughout my injury it was very tough for me not being able to help my team in them games so managing to come back and get to a final with this team is very much rewarding.
DK: A huge game for the Reserves on Saturday, what are your thoughts going into that game?
CS: Yes a massive game Saturday which no doubt we need 3 pts out of it, as a team we have all said how important these last few games are in reserves and how important it is to finish strong right till the end.
The holders struck twice in 3 minutes, first Evan Gledhill met Flynn Bobby's corner, before James Coton latched onto the rebound from Bobby's free-kick to turn home a second on 21 minutes.
Coton thundered home his second and Needham's third ten minutes later, prior to Charlie Smy netting a late fourth to round off a solid evening for the young Reds.
Charlie Smy (10') weaved into space before shooting over from distance, in a fairly even start to the game.
At the other end (16'), an excellent save from Charlie Skinner - who flew high to his left, stretching his arm superbly to tip the striker's shot behind.
Woodbridge (17') headed ovver from point blank range from the resulting corner, as a brilliant ball across goal was intercepted for a Needham corner up the other end.
Evan Gledhill headed the Marketmen in front from the following set-piece (18'), expertly meeting Flynn Bobby's pinpoint delivery to bullet head home into the roof of the net.
In quick-fire fashion, Needham doubled their lead 3 minutes later - Bobby's long range free-kick was on target, which the keeper spilled out for James Coton to turn home the loose ball.
Clever play saw Coton (31') added a third, and his second, after the attacker's close range shot was deflected just wide from Bobby's brilliant low cross from distance, the former latches onto the loose ball to rifle a half-volley into the roof of the net.
Woodbridge (40') went close to pulling to a goal back, half-volleying just over from close range after Skinner parried away a cross.
Skinner (45') was again forced into another excellent stop, flying high to his left to beat a shot away.
Needham appeals for a penalty (45'+1') were waved away as a shot went just wide of the bottom far corner, with Bobby curling a great effort from the left-hand edge of the box (45'+4') at goal, prompting a deflection to turn it narrowly wide, as Luke Betts' side led 3-0 at the break.
After the break, Coton's (50') ferocious strike from 20-yards out was beaten away by the keeper, ahead of Smy's (56') ferocious goal-bound strike from the left-hand edge of the box being inadvertently blocked by Olly Reynolds.
Smy (57') blazed agonisingly wide, before a great stop from the keeper (63') thwarted Gledhill from netting a brace.
The striker's stunning curling 30-yard free-kick looked destined to find the top right-hand corner until the keeper flew across to tip it over via the top of the crossbar.
While Skinner (67') was alert to tip away a dangerous right wing corner, Olly Bowman (68') swung an excellent spot-on rirght wing cross into Gledhill whose header was glanced just wide of the bottom far corner.
Coton (70') wrapped a good effort narrowly over from just outside the area, ahead of Olly Bowman smartly tracking his man to reduce the angle - with the resulting shot comfortably gathered by Skinner.
Woodbridge lashed a good strike narrowly wide, as Needham added a fourth (85').
Following great play, Brad Smith thread Harry Hopkins whose flick on slid Charlie Smy through onto the left-hand side, one-on-one with the keeper to cooly pick out the bottom right-hand corner.
A very good professional performance from Betts' side, who will face Leiston in the Final.
Needham:- 1 Charlie Skinner, 2 Olly Bowman (83' Grimmer), 3 Brad Smith, 4 Kellen Fiddy (C), 5 Olly Reynolds, 6 Charlie Smy, 7 Oscar Wakeling (65' Vieira), 8 Harry Hopkins, 10 James Coton, 11 Flynn Bobby (83' Tamila), 19 Evan Gledhill (77' Nunn). Subs: 9 Henry Vieira, 14 Zak Tamila, 15 Fenton Grimmer, 16 Jack Nunn, 17 Jake Bloom (GK).
Booked: Harry Hopkins (56'), Kell Fiddy (74')
Goals: Evan Gledhill (18'), James Coton (21', 31'), Charlie Smy (85').
Double goalscorer James Coton reflects on last night's victory.
DK: A great win tonight, how pleased are you?
JC: Yeah it was a really good which I am pleased with I really enjoy big games like that with the boys under the lights.
DK: Very professional performance, which must make it even more pleasing?
JC: Yeah it was a good performance not just from me but from everyone. Going in 3-0 at half time it was important that everyone remained professional and kept our foot on the gas and didn’t concede.
DK: Two goals in a semi-final, to add to your tally - two well taken finishes?
JC: Yeah it’s always nice to score in any game but go get two to help the team get through to the final makes it even more special.
DK: Having made the final last year, can you put into words how it feels to have done it again?
JC: Yeah it feels good to have made another final it was a target that we set ourselves at the start of the season to retain the cup and it is one that we are only one game from doing so we are all really happy with that and I am looking forward to playing in it.
DK: You must be proud of the season you've been having personally, scoring goals and getting recognised with apps in the first team?
JC: Yeah I am pleased with how the season has gone so far. Making appearances for the first team is something I am really proud of as I enjoy challenging myself at that level and it has been a good experience.
DK: As a close knit team, it must make what you've achieved as a team over the 12 months extra special?
JC: It does make it really special I love the environment that has been created at the academy by all the coaches and all the players I think it is the perfect balance of having fun and being hard working and professional I think that is why we have achieved so much as a group.
Goalkeeper Charlie Skinner discusses reaching the Final of the Suffolk U18 Midweek Cup.
DK: A very good performance to make the final, how proud are you?
CS: Yes very proud of all of the lads in what was a tough game at times but we kept going right till the end, I think we all agreed that it wasn’t are most pretty performance but shows what a good to team we are to get it over the line.
DK: Some big saves from you to keep a clean sheet, how nice is it to contribute in that way?
CS: Yes, it’s always nice to come away with a win but getting a clean sheet aswell just makes it that little bit sweeter for me and the team and it’s always nice for me and the defence to do our part when the forwards are doing there’s.
DK: Can you describe how easy or difficult it can be to keep switched on as a GK throughout in a semi-final?
CS: For me personally I find it easy to because of how important it is to keep switched on, anything can happen in games and they can be changed so quickly.
DK: After winning the cup last season, does it make it even better to make it back there this season?
CS: Definitely it feels so good to make it to another final with this group of players and going back to back finals just shows how well we play as a team and is a special feeling.
DK: As a goalkeeper, you're no doubt very pleased with your clean sheet record in cup competitions?
CS: Definitely yes I’m very happy with it and there’s no better feeling for a gk than to support your team in that way.
DK: Having missed out on parts of the season through injury, it must make it extra rewarding to make it to the Cup Final?
CS: Yes having missed very important games throughout my injury it was very tough for me not being able to help my team in them games so managing to come back and get to a final with this team is very much rewarding.
DK: A huge game for the Reserves on Saturday, what are your thoughts going into that game?
CS: Yes a massive game Saturday which no doubt we need 3 pts out of it, as a team we have all said how important these last few games are in reserves and how important it is to finish strong right till the end.
