Grundisburgh 1 Stowmarket Town 2A LATE goal from Warren Taylor-Holt won the Touchline Sports Suffolk Senior Cup at Portman Road last night. Taylor-Holt finished sweetly to give the Ridgeons League Division One side their first success in this competition for over 40 years.

By Elvin King

Grundisburgh 1 Stowmarket Town 2

A LATE goal from Warren Taylor-Holt won the Touchline Sports Suffolk Senior Cup at Portman Road last night.

Taylor-Holt finished sweetly to give the Ridgeons League Division One side their first success in this competition for over 40 years.

Their opponents, Metaltec SIL Senior Division leaders Grundisburgh, took the lead and, for large periods of the first half, looked as though they would achieve a victory that would keep them on course for a treble success this season.

Apart from being favourites to win the title, they are also in the semi finals of the Omnico Cup.

But Stowmarket's stamina and their familiarity with playing regular midweek football paid off as they finished the stronger team, although extra time looked likely before Taylor-Holt struck.

Grundisburgh were looking to become the first SIL team to win this competition since they beat Needham Market seven years ago, and when they took the lead in the 12th minute, they looked as though they were capable of doing so.

Their speedy forwards were a handful for the Stowmarket defence and, after Karl Sandilands had headed against the bar, a corner from the left was turned into the net from close range by Tom Parker.

Stowmarket were on the back foot, but they were able to hit back in the 22nd minute thanks to a mistake by Grundisburgh goalkeeper, Louis Johnson. He fumbled a free kick from Taylor-Holt and central defender Chris Leys was able to turn the loose ball over the line.

Tony Cracknell had a free header saved for Stowmarket before Lee Grimwood saw his cross-cum-shot bounce on the far post before being cleared on the half hour.

Stowmarket gradually enjoyed more possession, although there looked little likelihood of a goal until sloppy defending two minutes from the end enabled Taylor-Holt to cut inside, steady himself and then deliberately drive a low shot to the keeper's right.

Teams

Grundisburgh: Johnson, Greenhalgh, R Parker, Southgate, Watson, King, Reid (sub Webb 73 mins) T Parker, (D Grimwood 78), Beaumont (Driver 75) L Grimwood, Sandilands. Subs: Brighty, Messenger.

Stowmarket Town: Charters, Deasy, Brill, Roberts, Leys, Wright (Carr 73), Ward, Platt, Cracknell, Deller, Taylor-Holt. Subs: Hammond, Ford, Gray, Horner.

Referee: Mr D. Stobbart

Attendance: 1,480