Sunday League at its finest!!
Our season proper got under way on the 6th of September with V3.0 of our Sunday side travelling to play against West Suffolk Wolves at Fornam St Martin, in true Sunday league fashion we arrived to find the pitch was hurriedly being marked out. We are not sure if they had simply forgotten or had been out for pre season “training” the night before but the final state of the pitch speaks for itself. After a half an hour delay the game kicked off, after an slow start we grew into the game and came out 2 – 1 winners, the Wolves goalkeeper keeping the score respectable for the home side. The following Sunday (13th) we entertained higher league Lakenheath up the Green in the Open Cup, after another slow start we allowed the opposition to take the lead but we settled down and were back in the game courtesy of a Josh Mealey 25 yard screamer. 2nd half we really found our stride and raced into a 4 – 1 lead, although Lakenheath did come back into with two late goals we booked our place in the next round thanks in no small part to a spectacular goal line clearance from Gladwell, 4 – 3 it finished.
Vets Tough Start
After what seemed like an age away the Veterans started with two cup Semi Finals from last season. First up it was the Suffolk Veterans Cup against a very strong Woodbridge Town side (played at Bourne Vale, Ipswich). Woodbridge looked to avenge a defeat we inflicted on them during last season, that coupled with a lack of pre season ultimately led to a 6 – 0 defeat but we can hold our heads up high that we made it so far in the competition. The following Sunday saw the League Cup Semi Final against Westbourne Warriors (played at Ipswich Wanderers, Ipswich). After holding firm for 90 minutes the score was 1 – 1 against the higher level opposition, which brought on the words that no player let alone a Veteran wants to hear EXTRA TIME. The boys held on valiantly and after a getting to 3 – 2 it all got too much and they succumbed to a 6 – 2 defeat. Two heroic efforts from the boys against two of the top teams in the league.
Finally to the Saturdays
On the 12th both Saturday started their league campaigns after what felt like a lifetime since our last competitive games. The First Team travelled along the Orwell to Woolverstone whilst the Reserves entertained Achilles Reserves up the Green. The Firsts got off to a slow start (anyone notice a theme here??) and were punished by some sloppy play in the first 20 minutes. Although we had the better of the play for the rest of the encounter we couldn’t take our chances where the home side did, final score 3 – 1 to the home side. The Reserves hosted Achilles Reserves up the Green knowing that it would probably be one of the toughest encounters of the season and how true that came to be with the Visitors, full of former Senior Level players, making a blistering start. Luckily the referee blew for the sanctity of half time with us 6 – 0 down. With strong words rattling around in the players ears we stepped out for the 2nd half immediately with more fight about us, although we didn’t trouble the scorers chart our performance was much better holding the visitors to 0 – 0 in the 2nd half, full time 0 – 6.
Not the start that three of our sides would have wanted to make but plenty to work on in training and we all know with players we have we can put it right in our next games.
October Fixtures
With lots of Suffolk Cup games (from last season and this) and with the current situation we find ourselves in our fixtures are subject to regular changes, so if you like to see up to date fixture please follow us on social media Twitter – @CockfieldU or Facebook – Cockfield Fc or contact the club via email football@cockfield.org.uk. Alternatively you can go to www.fulltime-league.thefa.com and search Macron Suffolk and Ipswich for Saturdays (Divisions 2 and Inter A), search Bury and District Sunday league (Division 3) and Norfolk and Suffolk Veterans League (Division 2 South).
