Liam Hillyard scored a brace, including a stunning second goal, as Achilles saw off SIL Senior Division rivals Capel Plough, 2-0, to book their place in the final of the Suffolk Senior Cup, on Friday night.
The powerful striker latched onto a through ball from midfield before finishing past Capel goalkeeper Aaron Beal, on 55 minutes, to open the scoring.
However it was his second goal that caught the eye, the powerful striker watching a diagonal high pass drop before hitting an unstoppable volley from the right corner of the 18-yard box, the ball dipping over Capel’s overworked goalkeeper, on 80 minutes.
It was no more than the Bob Coleman Cup champions deserved, manager Luke Hillyard’s side pinning Capel back in their own half for much of the game and having the lion’s share of the chances.
Achilles will now play the winner of Saturday’s (tomorrow) other semi-final, between Crane Sports and Haverhill Borough, at the Millfield, while Capel can concentrate on ensuring their Senior Division status.
The first half lacked quality, but Achilles had the better chances and were twice denied by Beal.
His first save came on nine minutes when Daniel Allen found a yard of room in the penalty box and fired a shot towards goal which was brilliantly tipped over by the stopper.
Beal was forced into action again 10 minutes before the break when Hillyard curled a free-kick around the Capel wall from 30 yards, but saw the goalkeeper dive across to his left and push the ball out for a corner.
Sean Benneworth also saw a half-volley go just wide for Achilles, as Capel struggled to maintain any kind of pressure in their opponents’ final third.
Achilles kept the pressure on in the early stages of the second half and Lee Grimwood volleyed just wide of the far post after a clever reverse pass from Hillyard.
Grimwood then headed wide from a Hillyard cross, but Achilles were in front just 30 seconds later.
Hillyard, who spent time with Felixstowe & Walton in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division this season, latched onto a defence-splitting pass before showing his quality to finish.
His second goal, which wrapped up the game, would have graced the Premier League – a stunning volley which gave Beal no chance.
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