GRUNDISBURGH joint manager Kevin Cunningham vowed to keep going until his side can no longer mathematically lift the Kingsley Healthcare SIL Senior Division title.

They scored four unanswered second-half goals to defeat Ipswich Athletic 4-0 last night and so keep the destination of the title up in the air.

The reigning champions closed the gap on leaders Woodbridge Athletic to four points thanks to a dominant display once they took the lead.

Cunningham said: “We will keep going and will try to keep the pressure on Woodbridge Athletic right to the end.

“It is still very much in their hands, but it is never over until it is over.”

Grundisburgh ran out worthy winners in the end, but their weakened opponents competed well until falling behind in the first minute of the second half.

Cunningham said: “We had a hard, physical game against Achilles on Saturday, and it took us a while to get going tonight.

“You have to give them some credit. They had some young boys from their reserve team and they worked extremely hard and closed us down well.

“We had a few words with our boys a half time and shook them up, and once we scored we got on top.”

The hosts, who were missing several first-team regulars, had held their own up until the interval. Indeed, Athletic looked the more lively in the opening stages, creating four chances in the first 15 minutes. The best of these saw Danny Crump beat away a fierce angled Craig Jennings drive at his near post.

Grundisburgh’s Andy Crump twice moved forward menacingly from the back and Tom Bradlaugh saw his 25-yard shot clip the top of the crossbar.

The visitors went ahead in the 46th minute, Lewis Driver tucking home the rebound after Karl Taber failed to hold Lyndon Alexander’s shot.

Tom Childs’ superb lay-off put Driver away down the left and his crossfield pass picked out Josh Trenter in acres of space to bury his shot past Taber in the 72nd minute.

Two goals in the final six minutes underlined Grundisburgh’s superiority. Childs headed home Bradlaugh’s left wing corner at the far post and three minutes later Driver held off Nathan Cooke and cleverly chipped home.

The teams

Ipswich Athletic: K Taber, N Cooke, J Revell, G Flurrie (sub D Harrold 75 mins), J Keeble, A Jacobs, A Ford (sub D Tournay-Godfrey 61 mins), L Wilcox, C Jennings, C Ebanks (sub A Ditcham 75 mins), L Marjoram. Unused sub: C Calver.

Grundisburgh: D Crump, S Wright, M Cunningham, S Dearsley (sub T Childs 64 mins), A Crump, J Carr, L Alexander (sub J Trenter 64 mins), M Moore, L Driver (sub J Scales 76 mins), T Bradlaugh, L Reid. Unused subs: M Squirrell, M Van-oe-ne.

Referee: Mr T Cousins.