Haughley United manager Jason Cook says his side’s cup heroics last season provided a great fillip as they get ready for another assault on the Suffolk Senior Cup this time round.

United reached the final at Portman Road in May, losing 3-2 to Waveney, while also finishing runners-up in the Bob Coleman Cup, going down 4-2 to SIL Senior Division rivals, Achilles.

Tomorrow (Saturday), Haughley travel to Achilles in the second round of the Senior Cup (2.15pm kick-off), having lost to the same opponents at home in the league, 2-1, three weeks ago.

“We would love to get there (Senior Cup final) again, and there was the Bob Coleman Cup too, but there will be a lot of hard work to do before we get to that stage,” said Cook, who added that the cup runs did not come without their problems.

“It was something of a double-edged sword being in the cups last season,” he revealed.

“It was great to go on the runs and a good buzz for the club, but it did hinder our league campaign towards the end of the season when we were playing two or three games a week.

“The atmosphere at the club was fantastic but our form suffered a bit once we got to the (Senior Cup) final.

“It was a case of who do we play? Who do we rest?

“There was the Bob Coleman Cup as well and it would probably have been better if the Senior Cup had come first.”

Haughley’s form this season has been mixed so far, the team sat in mid-table with three defeats, four losses and a draw from their opening eight games of the season.

“We lost our top scorer last season, Ryan Wragg, to Achilles, as well as Ivan Buxton,” said Cook.

“We have brought three or players in and we made a slow start – we have not gone off like a rocket as we did last season.

“But there have been a lot of positives the last few weeks and we should have got something against Achilles.”

Elsewhere in the Senior Cup tomorrow, also with 2.15pm kick-offs, Bungay Town host Bramford United, Capel Plough entertain Kirkley & Pakefield Reserves, Beccles Town go to Grundisburgh, Leiston St Margarets are at home to 2015 winners Lakenheath and Ransomes Sports host last year’s winners, Waveney.

There are two all-Senior Division ties kicking off at the same time. Coplestonians, fresh from a 1-0 league win at Cranes last week, host Stanton, while Cranes go to Henley.

At 3pm, Westerfield go to Stowmarket Town, who have won their last 10 games in Thurlow Nunn Division One.

In the SIL Senior Division, Wenhaston host Ipswich Athletic (2.30pm kick-off).