The day was well attended and hopefully everyone enjoyed the AFC facilities.
Below are the details of all three finals and congratulations to the three winners Haverhill Borough, Leiston Orient and Woodbridge Town Veterans.

First Final
Suffolk FA Sunday Trophy

Haverhill Borough won the Suffolk FA Sunday Trophy in a nine-goal thriller against Lavenham after extra time.

The final at AFC Sudbury between the two Sudbury & Haverhill District Sunday League Division Three sides was a fitting way to get this season’s county cup finals under way, and made for a frenetic start to ‘Super Sunday’ at AFC Sudbury, who staged three finals on one day.

It was tough on Lavenham, and especially striker Scott Sloots, who scored a hat-trick, to lose 5-4 but they ultimately paid the price for their own ill-discipline as they had two men sent off.

Borough took the lead in the tenth minute, Kieran Stratton playing the ball inside for Ryan Smithson, who turned his man and scored with a low cross-shot just inside the far post.

Lavenham’s task got that much harder when Dan Smith was sent off in the 21st minute for something he said to one of the assistant referees after they thought they had been awarded a penalty, but offside was given instead.

However, the ten men drew level after 44 minutes when a swerving 40-yard free-kick from Scott Sloots deceived Liam Savage, who could only help it into the net.

Their joy was shortlived, because in first-half injury time Borough broke and Smithson squared to Stratton who slotted home to regain the lead.

Lavenham were level again seven minutes in to the second half, Sloots scoring from the penalty spot after Nathan Holder had been bundled over.

Sloots completed his hat-trick in the 68th minute, climbing highest to score with a downward header from brother Ashley’s free-kick.

Borough’s Kyle Easton-Mulcare saw his well-struck curling free-kick rebound off the face of the crossbar, before Lavenham went down to nine men after 79 minutes, Lee Delves receiving a second yellow card.

Borough equalised two minutes into time added on when the ball broke to Dan Pass inside the box and he shot past Ash Wright to take the match to extra time with almost the last kick of the regulation 90 minutes.

They then went in front three minutes into extra time, Ben Brennan firing over Wright into the roof of the net, but back came Lavenham and Ashley Sloots tucked home the equaliser two minutes later.

But with both teams tiring it was Borough who got the decisive goal, Easton-Mulcare sweeping home after a free-kick had been deflected into his path.

The Trophy and medals were presented by Suffolk FA Honorary Life Member David Webb.

Lavenham: Ashley Wright, Aaron Tatum, Lee Delves, Spencer Hynard, Ashley Sloots, Nathan Holder, Liam Faires, Andy Fisher, Kieron Fisher, Scott Sloots, Dan Smith. Used subs: Adam Chamberlin, Ashley Faires, James Robinson, Simon Theobald.

Haverhill Borough: Liam Savage, Aaron Tolley, Paul Botten, Kyle Easton-Mulcare, Sean Savage, Tom Boddey, Kieran Stratton, Aaron Forshaw, Dan Pass, Ryan Smithson, Sam Pass. Used subs: Ben Brennan Jack Harvey, Gareth Adams, Ethan Boddey, Bobby Wyatt.

Referee: Dean Knight

Second Final
Suffolk FA Sunday Shield

Leiston Orient coasted to victory in the final of this season’s Suffolk FA Sunday Shield.

In the second of three finals being staged at AFC Sudbury on ‘Super Sunday’, Leiston Orient defeated fellow Ipswich Sunday League side Rushmere Lions 3-0.

Leiston Orient established a grip on the game with two goals in a six-minute spell in the first-half.

They took the lead after 23 minutes when Seb Miller squared the ball to Tane Backhouse who sidefooted home from inside the penalty area.

They doubled their advantage in the 29th minute, striker Ken Doyle winning a tackle 40 yards from goal and bearing down on goalkeeper Daniel Smith unopposed before rolling the ball into the corner of the net.

In a game of few clear-cut chances, Leiston Orient put the game out of their opponents’ reach with a third goal just past the hour mark.

James Blades, who will be in the Crane Sports squad for the Senior Cup Final at Portman Road on Sunday, April 30th, was fouled as he tried to cut inside Ryan Davidson.

Nathan Szyszlyk stepped up to send Daniel Smith the wrong way from the resulting penalty.

The Shield and medals were presented by Suffolk FA Chairman Phil Lawler and Suffolk FA Council member David Theobald.

Leiston Orient: George Dean, Will Ridgard, Liam Saxby, Nathan Szyszlyk, Jason Scopes, Stuart Goddard, Sam Cloke, Tane Backhouse, Ken Doyle, Seb Miller, James Blades. Used subs: Jason Crisp, Kyle Sore, James Askew, Daniel Knights, Liam Staff.

Rushmere Lions: Daniel Smith, Jamie Smith, Jamie Charker, Dan Legge, Ryan Davidson, Sam Harris, Brandon Smith, Aaron Hammond, Chase Holland, Steve Smith, Thomas Gordon. Used subs: Danny Clack, Anthony Clack, Adam Warden. Unused subs: Mark Warden, Trevor Gordon.

Referee: Dion Thorpe

Third Final
Suffolk FA Veterans Cup

Woodbridge Town atoned for the disappointment of losing the previous two finals to win this season’s Suffolk FA Veterans’ Cup.

The Woodpeckers avenged their defeats to Bury Town in each of the last two finals courtesy of a last-gasp Gavin Jennings goal to give them a 1-0 victory over their Norfolk & Suffolk Veterans’ League rivals.

In the third and last final to be staged on the 3G surface at AFC Sudbury as part of ‘Super Sunday’, Woodbridge Town’s Sam Cloke picked up his second winner’s medal after also playing for Leiston Orient in the Suffolk FA Sunday Shield Final.

Both sides had chances to break the deadlock in the first half, most notably eventual match-winner Jennings.

He headed wide from close range after just three minutes and was then superbly tackled by Richard Bell as he was about to shoot, before hitting the inside of a post with a header and was then denied by Craig Doosan from another header.

The direct running of both James Tatham and Alan North caused the Woodpeckers’ defence problems at the other end, but neither side was able to break the deadlock before the break.

Woodbridge were indebted to goalkeeper Gary Hammond twice in the opening stages of the second period.

Just seconds after the restart he produced a superb one-handed save from Nathan Vincent and from the resultant corner, Hammond arched backwards to tip over North’s dipping volley.

North thought he had opened the scoring just before the hour mark when his free-kick from the right wing crept inside the far post, but the assistant referee’s flag was raised for offside, and almost immediately after, Woodbridge’s Damien Pryke then hit the base of the near post.

Just when it looked as though the tie was heading towards extra time, North was again thwarted by the diving Hammond, before Woodbridge finally got the breakthrough, Matt Murphy crossing from the left and Jennings getting in front of Doosan to head home.

Woodbridge Town: Gary Hammond, Lee Henwood, Ian Williams, Matt Murphy, Jimmy Andrews, Sam Cloke, Kevin Morrison, Gareth Bolt, Gavin Jennings, Damien Pryke, Mark Allen. Used subs: Paul Overett, Jason Bixby, Steve Fosker. Unused sub: Simon Fryatt.

Bury Town: Craig Doosan, Steve Nicholls, Paul Dykstra, Simon Gay, Paul Leighton, Richard Bell, Simon Gresham, Nathan Vincent, James Tatham, Paul Musgrove, Alan North. Used subs: Steve Bugg, Gary Cox, Gareth Randell, Michael Steward. Unused sub: Trevor Collins

Referee: Ian Friend.

With thanks to Nick Garnham and the Suffolk Football Association