RESULT – Suffolk FA Primary Cup Final – Tuesday 30th April 2024 – CAVENDISH FC (0) versus REDGRAVE RANGERS FC (2).
SUFFOLK COUNTY FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
McDONALD’S SUFFOLK PRIMARY CUP FINAL.
CAVENDISH FC. 0. REDGRAVE RANGERS FC. 2.
Date: Tuesday 30th April 2024. Venue: Jobserve Community Stadium, Colchester United FC.
The McDonalds Suffolk Primary Cup Final was played at Colchester United FC, last Tuesday, both teams had brought a vociferous crowd to support their teams, the lad with the drum being prominent throughout! Cavendish FC from the ESBFL, Division 2 had belied their league form to win through after beating Lakenheath Casuals FC., Hundon FC Reserves., Grundisburgh FC Reserves., Kirton Athletic FC Reserves and Ipswich Vale Exiles FC along the way. Redgrave Rangers FC, from the Suffolk & Ipswich League, are currently second in Division Three and they had beaten AFC Kesgrave Reserves., Thurlow FC Reserves., Cockfield United FC Reserves., Occold FC and last season’s winners, Coddenham Athletic FC, along the way to this final.
The match officials for this match were an experienced foursome, Referee, Terry Rackley who was assisted by Mark Paget and Tony Wickenden, all qualified at level 5, with Bob Bullamore, a referee for fifty years, as Fourth official.
Cavendish had the first attempt at goal, this was as early as the first minute, with Childs firing in a low shot well saved by keeper, MacArthur, low to his right side, at the other end Hubbard played the ball back to Melia and when he dithered over the ball, Leszczynski nipped in to shoot into the side netting. Gooderham-Watts was late into a challenge on Wood, Finch took the free kick clearing the Redgrave Rangers defence before being cleared at the far post. When Taylor (A) ventured forward his cross was punched clear by keeper, MacArthur but Taylor (H) had ventured offside in any case. Redgrave Rangers upped their game and a move started by Day, then Addison and Church, led to Hines backheeling the ball into the side netting. Childs for Cavendish looked lively down the left side but was tripped by Addison, Hubbard took the free kick but straight to keeper, MacArthur. With ten minutes gone this had been a cagey start by both teams, getting used to a huge pitch and, also by not having met each other before, Cavendish were perhaps more confident when in possession, it was getting the ball into that final third, something we see every week. A deep cross from Church was fielded by keeper, Williamson, whose clearance found Childs who was quickly tackled by Channell.
When Cavendish broke forward on fifteen minutes, Melia passed to Dye who raced away riding two tackles before crossing, low and hard into the penalty area, where Channell cleared the ball away for a corner, from which Wood headed down to Finch who scuffed the ball wide near the far post. Taylor (A) and Dye worked the ball again down the right side, but Mathews cleared out for a throw in. Redgrave Rangers had weathered those early Cavendish attacks, Leszczynski, cut in from the left side but shot straight at keeper, Williamson, Hines followed up with another which the keeper fielded and quickly passed out to Taylor (A) who found Taylor (H) and he sent Childs away only for Channell to defend, conceding a corner. The diminutive, Addison for Redgrave Rangers got his head down and embarked on a rangy dribble forward, shifting the ball onto his right foot before firing wide, a decent approach though. The main threat from Cavendish came down the flanks through Childs and Dye and for Redgrave rangers it was Leszczynski, also on the left side. Gooderham-Watts and Childs went into a crunching challenge, no quarter given there, they got up, shook hands, and played on, there is a nice spirit about this match. Dye linked up with King whose throw-in found Childs with the ball eventually reaching Finch whose shot was blocked. The response from Redgrave Rangers was through Addison and Leszczynski whose shot was parried by keeper, Williamson, with defender Taylor (A) reaching the ball before Church.
The first appearance of a physio was on thirty minutes, Childs and defender Day who came off worse and had to be replaced by Kawa and it had begun to rain now, making the surface slippery underfoot. Taylor (H) controlled a high pass well, before laying the ball off to Hubbard who cross from shot wide on the right drifted wide. A corner was gained by Leszczynski, taken by Channell but headed clear by Wood, a roar went up in the Conference Suite behind where I was sitting, yes, Ipswich Town had gone ahead at Coventry, there was plenty of local support for that match too! This game remained cagey, neither team wanted to make mistakes, it was a passing game from back to front, pleasing to the eye at times but no end, product as goal chances were at a premium. A high ball from Hines was heading for Mathews but keeper, Williamson punched clear before the Assistant Referee raised his flag, then on forty minutes Goddard fouled Liskus, Taylor (H) took the free kick with keeper, MacArthur opting to punch, why can’t goal-keepers catch the ball these days, Kawa was blocked by Wood and Gooderham-Watts was fouled by Finch who was spoken too, there were two minutes of time added on the half.
HALF-TIME: 0 – 0.
Redgrave Rangers were quickly out of the traps for the second half, Leszczynski won a corner, off Melia, down on the left side, Leszczynski took the kick himself, keeper, Williamson elected to come for the ball, but JACK CHURCH rose in front of him to head home, game on! Undeterred, Childs for Cavendish gave chase against Gooderham-Watts and Goddard, then a deep cross from Dye forced keeper, MacArthur to punch clear as Taylor (H) threatened, good goalkeeping in fact. Dye had made several telling attacks in the first half, this seemed to have been noticed as Dye was now picked up by two defending players. Cavendish had been guilty of not defending set pieces, especially those sent in by Leszcynski, so when there was an infringement just close to the centre-circle Leszczynski sent over a fine free kick, the Cavendish defence failed to react, and this allowed WOJCIECH KAWA to smash the loose ball home off the underside of the cross bar. Once again, the Cavendish response was to get the ball wide to Childs who was prepared to chase forward and having reached the ball chipped it wide of the goal. Redgrave Rangers should have scored again on the hour mark, Leszczynski, who else, started the move down the left side, cutting in along the goal line his pass found Kawa who miscued his effort into the hands of keeper, Williamson.
On sixty minutes the first substitutes appeared for Cavendish, off went Dye and Childs to be replaced by Mills and Dowding, roll-on / roll-off substitutes then became a bit of a lottery, at least for this reporter, defender, Wood, who seemed to have picked up an injury was now playing up front. Redgrave Rangers made a change themselves with Church departing and White entering play. Leszczynski was in the thick of the action again, again down the left side, and from his pass Addison shot goalwards where keeper, Williamson reacted smartly to palm the rising shot over the crossbar. With twenty minutes remaining, Wood left the pitch to be replaced by Chaplain, keeper, Williamson launched a long ball forward, defender Channell handled under pressure from Taylor (H) who took the free kick himself but cleared the crossbar with ease hitting the sixth row of the empty stand behind the goal! Chaplain and Mathews had a bit of a spat, a raised arm or two, the referee chose to caution both players, given the way the game had been played that was the right decision. When play turned to the end that Redgrave Rangers were defending, the referee was alerted to his Assistant Referee waving his flag at the other end, after a short consultation, play was brought back, it seems keeper, Williamson had released the ball from his hands after leaving his penalty area, you rarely see that flagged these days but no action was taken against the keeper, technically, that’s hand-ball outside the penalty area, and a dismissible offence! The subsequent free kick was taken by Leszczynski, driven hard and low past the left hand upright.
With fifteen minutes remaining, Redgrave Rangers made a further change, Mathews went off and Betts came on, thus far Redgrave Rangers had scored two goals and repelled everything Cavendish could muster. A cross from Liskus was easily fielded by keeper, MacArthur, when play stopped, more substitutions followed from both teams, a free kick taken by Hubbard, tested the keeper, who saved at the near post, too little, too late! When Hubbard had a second chance a few minutes later Betts headed firmly clear. As Redgrave Rangers mounted a late attack, Chaplain was forced to rush a clearance, the ball landing on the top of his own net and the final passage of play saw Leszczynski break through with White and Church but keeper, Williamson saved on his goal line.
FULL-TIME: 0 – 2.
As cup finals go, this was no classic, on the night the better team won but credit is directed at both teams, a fair, well disciplined, match, few issues of note, two cautions, two goals and a winner without the need for spot kicks, apparently no “extra-time” is played in Suffolk CFA competitions.
The Suffolk County Primary Cup and mementoes were awarded by a joint effort from Keith Norton, Chairman of the Suffolk & Ipswich Football League and John Campany, Chairman of the Essex & Suffolk Border Football League.
Moving to my Star player, perhaps not the best of matches for Cavendish FC, their league form has perhaps been mediocre, but their cup form has been brilliant over five difficult matches, tonight they did not lose heart and tried to play their passing game, shading the first half but conceding so early in the second half made the tie more difficult. For Redgrave Rangers FC several players stood out, Addison was probing everywhere, Church and Kawa scored the important goals but the provider of those was my matchday, choice, Arthur Leszczynski
Teams:
CAVENDISH FC:
Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Tom Williamson., Jordan Melia., Adam King., Jake Wood (C)., Aaron Taylor., Jack Hubbard., Connor Dye., Lloyd Finc., Harry Liskus., Haydn Taylor., Harrison Childs.
Manager: Liam Cawtheray.
Used Substitutes: Ethan Mills., Will Chaplain., Dave Dowding.
(Roll-On / Roll-Off)
Unused Substitutes: Kamran Purcell., Callum Brind.
KINGS PARK RANGER FC:
Colours: Red & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Team:
Ryan MacArthur., Tyler Mathews., Aaron Day., kairon Hines., Nathan Channell., Arthur Leszczynski., Harvey Addison., Jack church., Samuel Goddard., Phillip Myles (C)., Mitch Gooderham-Watts.
Manager: Jordan Balls.
Used Substitutes: Daniel Betts., Stacey Payne., Joe White., Luke Hall., Wojciech Kawa.
(Roll-On / Roll-Off)
Referee: Terence Rackley.
Assistant Referees: Anthony Wickenden & Mark Paget.
4th official: Bob Bullamore.
STAR PLAYER: Arthur LESZCZYNSKI (REDGRAVE RANGERS FC)
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