Framlingham Town have a point to prove in Suffolk Senior Cup semi-final clash against Lakenheath

The boot will be very much on the other foot on AFC Sudbuiry’s 3G pitch when Framlingham Town take on Lakenheath in the semi-final of the CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup tomorrow (3pm).

At the same venue in the previous round the Castlemen took on an AFC Sudbury Reserves side they had dismantled 9-2 before the Covid-19 pandemic had forced an early curtailment to a second straight Thurlow Nunn League First Division North campaign.

Going into that clash Framlingham boss Liam Abraham stressed that it would have no bearing on the quarter-final and he was proven true to his word, with his side having to battle back from two goals down to win 3-2.

This time it is Framlingham who head into the fixture having been on the receiving end of a hefty blow, following their 7-1 Buildbase FA Vase loss at the hands of Lakenheath in September.

However, as was the case a fortnight ago against Sudbury’s second string, Abraham does not anticipate that particular afternoon having any relevance when the teams lock horns again at the MEL Group Stadium.

“It’s a cup game, there is no league form or anything like that going into it,” he said. “Before the Sudbury game I said they’d have a point to prove and that’s exactly what they did. It was tough and on another day we’d have got beaten.

“I don’t like to make excuses but we had a very young and naive side out that day (against Lakenheath) and they took full advantage. We’ll have a different team out and it’s a different game entirely.

“Danny Laws (Sudbury Reserves manager) mentioned in a report before our game with them about wanting to try to put things right and I feel similar this time.”

Victory would send Framlingham through to the final of the competition for just the second time in their history, but despite some early optimism, the match will not be played at Portman Road.

Suffolk FA had held positive conversations with Ipswich Town about the prospect of staging their showpiece fixtures at the ground, but pitch maintenance work has won out.

“A lot of people grow up around here as Town fans – I am one of them.” added Abraham.

“The thought of walking out there is a dream for a lot of us and you never know if that opportunity will come around again, so from that point of view it’s disappointing. Hopefully next year it’s back at Portman Road.

“But we’ve got a big game in front of us before we start even thinking about the final or winning the cup.”

The final will be played at Haverhill Rovers FC on Monday, May 31.