LL 2012-13: No.71 - Sat 29th December 2012; Benhall St Mary (1) 1 Grundisburgh (0) 2 AET;             Suffolk & Ipswich League Cup Rd 3; 1.30pm at B'hall & Sternfield Ex-Servicemens Club, School La, Benhall, Suffolk.

 

Leon writes: 'Fed up with the devaluation of the FA Cup in recent years? Miss the good old days of cup giantkillings? Then get yourself down to a Suffolk & Ipswich League Cup game where things are treated as seriously as they were 40 years ago and where the junior sides get a crack at playing the senior sides should they get through to this round or beyond. I look forward to this saturday between Christmas and new year like no other - it's their equivalent of the FA Cup cup third round and some tasty ties are always guaranteed. A few years ago it was Aldeburgh v holders Ransomes, last season it was Sproughton v Leiston St. MArgarets and this season, the obvious game to see was this one. Grundisburgh are the most successful of all SIL sides in recent times and are, as usual, going well again this year. But Benhall would be no pushovers with a tight defence and a good pedigree in cup football. The match was excellent with very little to choose between the two sides. Both were fully committed to winning the game and the game barely paused for breath throughout. Had Benhall, from Division Two, won this game it would have been an upset to rank amongst the biggest in the league's history. They came so close it must have hurt their brave players, losing the game to a 120th minute Tournay-Godfrey goal which was gifted to them by a defensive mistake - their first all afternoon. Benhall had taken the lead on 40 minutes through the giant Chris Sillett before Grundisburgh levelled through Alexander on 61 minutes during their first real spell on sustained pressure. A sad way for Benhall to go out but huge credit must go to them for the way they played today. The Benhall club is down the narrow School Lane, just past the thatched primary school, and the pitch just behind. A small car park meant many cars parked around the pitch which is unroped. A typically east Suffolk rural setting this one; quiet, sleepy village surrounded by fields with the small market town of Saxmundham a few miles to the north. A few hoppers in attendance today, some no doubt lured by the programme which was a nice bonus. Needed a local game today as I had to be in Bury St. Eds this evening on family duties - this was the perfect choice of game'.

 
FGIF Match Stats

 

Scorers: (H) Sillett (40) and (A) Alexander (61); Tournay-Godfrey (120)

 

Att: 71; Admission: Free; Programme: Free; Match rating: 4/5; Ground rating: 3/5

contributed on 06/01/13