Suffolk face flying opponents

By Elvin King

SUFFOLK face flying opposition for the second season running when they take on Guernsey in the FA County Youth Cup.

The visitors from the Channel Islands jetted over to East Anglia today to take on Suffolk in a third round tie at Woodbridge Town's ground tomorrow (kick-off 2pm).

Guernsey also touched down in Suffolk last season when they were beaten 3-2. Suffolk went out of the competition with a 4-2 defeat by Birmingham in the following round.

Martin Head, who is secretary of the Suffolk Football Association, said: “Guernsey looked a good young side 12 months ago and, if the majority of their players are still eligible, they will provide stern opposition.”

Suffolk, who beat Oxfordshire 3-2 in the second round, won this prestigious competition with a 2-1 final win over Birmingham at Portman Road in 2004/05.

And Head added: “Any competition run by the FA has a special charisma about it, and this one is no different.”

The Suffolk manager is Andy Gould and he selects a number of his squad from the West Suffolk College in Bury St Edmunds.

Suffolk, who travelled to play Jersey a couple of seasons ago, are hoping for a good run this season in a competition won in 2005/06 by Bedfordshire.

Haughley United and Grundisburgh look as though they might break away at the top of the Senior Division of the Metaltec SIL.

They both have home matches tomorrow with Mark Barnard's Haughley taking on East Bergholt and Grundisburgh locking horns with Ipswich Athletic.

Cockfield could be in danger of being cut adrift at the foot of the table if they fail to gain any reward from their home game with Melton St Audry's.

The two unbeaten teams in Division Five of the Metaltec SIL, Woolverstone United and Trimley Red Devils, meet tomorrow at Woolverstone Park.

The two sides, whose grounds are on opposite banks of the River Orwell, are the only teams in Division Five that are not reserve or third teams.