AFC Sudbury comfortably clinched the Suffolk FA Women’s Cup against lower league Stowupland Falcons despite a long delay due to torrential rain.
There was a record attendance of 920 for the final at Ipswich Town’s Portman Road ground, as the FA WNL side ran out 11-1 winners over their opponents who play three tiers below them.
Alex Penny hit a hat-trick after her return from suffering an ACL injury, Sophie Jeffrey netted twice and there was a goal each for Aliyat Lambe, Eva Frazzoni, Kaylee Dodd, Yasmin Drake (penalty), Jess Allen, and Ava Jouvenel, while Enya Moore scored a late consolation for the Falcons to the delight of their large following.
AFC Sudbury manager Luke Mallett told suffolkfa.com: “At the start of every season our goal is to either regain or retain the cup and last year we were very disappointed not to retain it.
“That’s the first goal we have conceded in this season’s competition, but the amount of goals we have scored (35 in four ties en route to the final) and the way we have won it, I could not be happier for the girls.
“I was pleased with the way we played overall, especially before the break in play, although we tried to force it too much towards the end.”
Martin Huggins, joint manager of Stowupland Falcons with Simon Gant, said: “We were up against a team who are leagues above us and who played some brilliant football tonight, so we can’t fault our girls who continued to battle.
“For us it was about the occasion. We are proud of our girls for getting this far and they have enjoyed the occasion and the experience, despite the weather.
“It is always disappointing to lose, but when you look at it, we are a few divisions apart and the facilities they have got and the coaching they get gives us something to aspire to.”
