Stowmarket Town manager Rick Andrews accepts that the Suffolk Premier Cup represents the club’s last realistic chance of winning any silverware this season, writes Nick Garnham.

East Anglian Daily Times: Stowmarket's Josh Mayhew is battling back to full fitness after injury. Picture: DAVE MATTHEWSStowmarket's Josh Mayhew is battling back to full fitness after injury. Picture: DAVE MATTHEWS (Image: Archant)

At the turn of the year, Stowmarket were well-placed in the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division, still involved in the FA Vase and through to two cup quarter-finals.

They are now all but out of the title race, lost 1-0 to Biggleswade in the fourth round proper of the FA Vase and exited the Thurlow Nunn League Challenge Cup 3-1 at the hands of Long Melford last Wednesday.

Stowmarket entertain Brantham Athletic in the last eight of this season’s Suffolk Premier Cup at Greens Meadow tomorrow night, kick-off 7.45pm.

The Old Gold & Blacks have already beaten Step 4 sides Mildenhall Town (4-1, away) and AFC Sudbury (3-1, home) to reach this stage of the competition.

Stowmarket sit fifth in the table – three places and four points better off than Brantham, with whom they played out a goalless draw just over a fortnight ago.

Andrews said: “We know each other, so from that aspect it is more difficult because we are something of an unknown quantity to the higher-ranked teams.

“There are teams from two divisions higher left in the competition, so we will be seen as one of the weaker teams, but we are in the quarter-finals and hopefully we can put in a performance and keep our season alive.

“The semi-final is then a one-off game at a neutral venue and anything can happen and it would be great to get to the final.

“If you look at our fan base and how it is growing, we would be extremely well supported if we were to get to the final at Portman Road.”

Long-term injury victims Josh Mayhew, last season’s leading scorer in the Thurlow Nunn League, Ollie Canfer and Luke Read all got valuable minutes under the belts in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Woodbridge Town.

Mayhew made it two goals in two games, while Canfer and Read both came off the bench in the second period.

However, while they are all likely to be involved versus Brantham, Jack Baker is ruled out after picking up a hamstring injury.