Framlingham Town aiming for FA Cup progress at expense of Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division side Lakenheath
Framlingham Town sealed a safe passage through in one cup competition last weekend and they will be looking to do the same thing in a different tournament tomorrow.
The Castlemen ran out 2-1 winners over lower-level Saxmundham Sports on Saturday in the opening round of this season’s Suffolk Senior Cup.
And it was a particularly pleasing result for manager Liam Abraham, who after guiding Framlingham to glory in the competition in 2023, has seen his side fall at the first hurdle in the two campaigns since.
“We put a big significance on the competition,” said Abraham. “It was a pleasing result because it showed the real depth that we have in the squad.
“People may have looked at our starting line-up and thought that we’d left players out, but in reality the players that came in are all players that will start plenty of games this season. We certainly weren’t disrespecting the competition because it’s one that we won two years ago and we want to do it again.
“We’ve gone out in the first round twice since then and I was gutted both times. As holders you want to make a better defence than that.
“It’s definitely a target for us this season and it would be great if the final ends up back at Portman Road.”
With their place in the second round of the county cup confirmed, focus now switches to the FA Vase tomorrow.
Given that they ply their trade a level higher than Framlingham in the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division, visiting Lakenheath will likely be considered the favourites to win the second round qualifying contest.
However, Framlingham’s recent record against Step 5 opposition fills their boss with confidence.
“We’ve done well against teams at a higher level recently,” added Abraham.
“We beat a Step 5 team in the previous round (Yaxley) and last year we beat Ely. Last year we also ended up losing 5-4 to Woodbridge and we’ve also got the better of Harleston, so there will be no massive fear for us going into it.
“Sometimes it can suit us playing a team at a higher level because they tend to come and attack us, which opens up a bit of space.
“In the league, particularly when we play at home where we’ve recorded some big wins, teams now sit deep and that’s hard to breakdown as an attacking unit.
“We’ll look to play our game and see where it takes us at the weekend.”
Framlingham, who remain unbeaten in the First Division North having collected 20 points from the first 24 on offer, will be without captain Johnny Kerridge this weekend.
The game has also come too soon for Joe Clifford, while Sam Bright is facing an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering a dislocated knee while playing for the club’s Under-23s last weekend.