Suffolk Under-18 Midweek Cup Final AFC Sudbury 5 Walsham-le-Willows 2 Four goals in a 15-minute spell as the end of the first-half saw AFC Sudbury blow away Walsham-le-Willows in the Suffolk FA Under-18 Midweek Cup Final.

Walsham gave as good as they got either side of that period, equalising soon after falling behind early on, and then scoring the only goal of the second-half.

But AFC Sudbury were unstoppable as they fired in four goals before the break on their way to a 5-2 win at Colchester United’s Weston Homes Community Stadium on Monday night.

The holders had taken the lead after just three minutes, Mekhi Mckenzie lobbing home, but Walsham were level with only seven minutes on the clock, Ryan Gibbs finding a gap in the AFC Sudbury wall to score from a low free-kick.

After an even opening half-an-hour, AFC Sudbury stamped their authority on the contest, a good move down the right wing ending with Ollie Dunlop sidefooting home in the 31st minute.

Sam Mills then planted a firm header into the roof of the net after 39 minutes, and a minute later it was 4-1 as Mckenzie headed home a deep cross to the far post, and just before the interval Ollie Peters fired home from close range.

The only goal of the second-half was scored by Gibbs who showed good strength to hold off a defender and guide the ball past Curtis Childs in the 72nd minute.

That AFC Sudbury did not add to their tally was largely down to Walsham’s Alex Johns who excelled with some splendid saves, the pick of the bunch being when he arched backwards to tip over Callum Vincent’s rising drive.

Teams

Walsham-le-Willows: Alex Johns, George Crowe, Elliott Frost-Palmer, Charlie Glover, Sam Waterson, Callum Larter, Fred Stewart-Hogg, Callum Dove, Tristin Reyes, Ryan Gibbs, Callum Dongray. Used subs: Kehan Whitby, Toby Finbow, Henry Walshe, Ryan Stiff. Unused sub: Konnor Dixon.

AFC Sudbury: Curtis Child, Sam Mills, Toby Mitchell, Tyler French, Joe Walker, Tom Dettmar, Joe Wright, Ollie Peters, Callum Watson, Ollie Dunlop, Mekhi Mckenzie. Used subs: Ben Hunter, Kane Munday, Callum Fuller, Callum Vincent, Jake Colclough.

Referee: Stephen Henderson-Holmes.

Attendance: 426.