Capel Plough undaunted by Suffolk Senior Cup trip to Newmarket

The task has become a whole lot tougher since the draw was made as The Jockeys sit second top of Thurlow Nunn League Division One and Capel occupy second-from-bottom spot in the Senior Division of the Touchline SIL.

But Steve O’Leary, who returned to the club this season as joint manager alongside Sean Tynan, said his young side will be undaunted by the challenge.

“From our point of view it is a break from the league and we will go there with nothing to lose.

“We have hired a coach and we are going to enjoy the day. We will have a few drinks in Newmarket after the game before coming home.

“In the last four or five years we have had some good runs in the cup, and whereas in years gone by there may have been trepidation and excitement, we will go there and enjoy the scenery.”

After a win and a draw in their opening two matches Capel have suffered four straight defeats, the most recent last Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to high-riding Wickham Market, when Capel changed to a 4-5-1 formation, rather than Gary Collins, Adam Rawthorn and Richard Scott all playing up front.

“Last week we dominated the game, but our left back made a mistake and our keeper made a mistake and we lost 2-1.

“Mistakes are letting us down at the moment, but we want to keep on playing attacking football and worry about anything else after Christmas.”

Besides O’Leary other changes at the club have seen Peter Hutchings return as goalkeeping coach while Paul Skingley has taken over on the fitness and coaching role as Archie Arnold is sidelined following a knee operation.

Miles Donovan is the oldest player in a young team which includes O’Leary’s own son Adam and Zach Lari, who is joined in midfield by Ross Dorward and ex-Framlingham Town player Robert Harvey, who has just returned from injury, while centre back Lewis Wilks and striker Nick Middlebrook were both previously at Brantham Athletic.