Stowupland Falcons v Woolverstone United | 06.05.2023 | Macron Suffolk Ipswich League Division One | Bloomfields, Needham Market FC |

Stowupland Falcons win the Macron Suffolk & Ipswich League (SIL) Division One title with a 5-1 victory over Woolverstone United at Needham Market's Bloomfields grass pitch - the same ground that they last sealed promotion to the SIL Senior Division in 2007.

The victory saw Mark Dye's side, who started the day in second in a four horse title race - with only goal difference separating the top four teams on 49 points apiece - but ended it as league champions with results elsewhere, plus their own, going their way.

The home side started brightly, creating an early chance in just the third minute. Craig Simpson lofted a neat ball over to Rampley on the right-hand side, the latter then leapt highest in the air twice in succession, the second time finding captain Callum Lee, whose low shot towards the bottom far corner was gathered well by the well placed goalkeeper.  

At the other end, Woolverstone had a decent chance six minutes later, Declan Lee broke into space on the left-hand side only to fire an 18-yard volley over the bar. Falcons on the other hand broke quickly up the other end, though Rampley's left wing cross-shot looped over the bar. 

Falcons went close to opening the scoring on 13 minutes, the home side found Craig Simpson in space on the left-hand, far, side of the box who looked to dink an effort into the far corner but for a great defensive header from captain Jordan Harward to clear it off the goal-line. 

Three minutes later a great right wing Falcons, 35-yard, free-kick was swung in dangerously to the far post finding captain Callum Lee in acres of space whose first time volley went over the crossbar. 

Falcons then broke the deadlock in the 20th minute, a right wing ball in fell to the aforementioned Lee to sweep home into the roof of the net from 8-yards out, 1-0 Falcons. 

Some great defending from Woolverstone denied Falcons from adding a quickfire second goal just two minutes later. After Rampley picked up possession on the left-hand side in the box, the forward saw two low fierce shots blocked and saved by the goalkeeper - with his left foot down to his far left-hand corner, either side of forward Simpson seeing a low shot on the left-hand edge of the box also denied. 

Jordan Dye then curled a dangerous left wing corner towards the top far corner, forcing goalkeeper George Bone, on his line, to leap up well and swat it over for another corner on 26 minutes. 

It was from the resulting set-piece that Falcons doubled their advantage, Dye's right wing corner was swung in brilliantly, finding the leaping JON CARVER who flicked a header home into the top far corner from 8 yards out, 2-0 Falcons after 28 minutes. 

Four minutes later, a long right wing Falcons throw was headed back smartly to Baxter Smith whose fierce 40-yard volley towards the top right-hand corner was parried down and gathered by the well positioned Bone. 

A good passage of play from Falcons soon provided their third goal of the afternoon on 35 minutes, Jordan Dye's left wing corner was creeping into the top far corner until goalkeeper Bone beat it away on his line. Falcons then recycled possession as Dye's 35-yard fierce strike on the left-hand side was well held by Bone at his far post. Moments later, Rampley added his name to the scoresheet from inside the box, finding the empty net past the onrushing Bone, 3-0 Falcons. 

Falcons then had the final chance of the first half on 45 minutes, Smith chases a ball towards the Woolverstone box, though goalkeeper Bone was alert to rush out and smash the ball clear ahead of the forward as Falcons went into the interval with a well deserved three goal advantage.

Dye's set-pieces continued to provide opportunities for Falcons, with two more exquisite set-pieces almost providing a fourth goal in the 53rd minute. The midfielder's audacious left wing corner was swung in dangerously to Rampley in space, whose header from 3-yards out rebounded back into play off the face of the crossbar. The resulting left wing Dye corner again found Rampley in space, from a similar distance at the near post, only for his stooping header to clatter back into play low off the near post. 

While Bone punches away another Dye left wing corner in his goal-line on 55 minutes, yet another troublesome Dye left wing cleverly taken corner found Simpson in acres of space, though his close range header was glanced narrowly past the top far corner four minutes later. 

But it was the other end that the fourth goal of the afternoon would arrive at on 62 minutes, Watling advanced off his line only to push a deep ball into the box only as far as Justin Davies, in space on the left-hand side of the box, who cushioned a smart first time finish into the vacant bottom near corner, 3-1 Woolverstone.

However, six minutes later Falcons restored their 3 goal advantage with a goal worthy of winning any game - let alone practically wrapping up a league title. Substitute Jack Minns found space on the left-hand edge of the box to curl a sensational strike into the top left-hand corner, 4-1 Falcons. 

Falcons rounded off the scoring with their fifth goal of the game on 75 minutes, a great ball over the top released substitute Matt Chaplin on the edge of the box, one on one with the onrushing goalkeeper, before cooly slotting past the stopper into the middle of the empty net, 5-1 Falcons. 

While Chaplin wrapped a 35-yard first time strike not far wide of the top far, left-hand corner after Minns won back possession on 77 minutes, the latter then pounced on the ball inside the box only to slam a shot narrowly wide of the bottom far right-hand corner five minutes later. 

Some terrific defending from Woolverstone substitute Sam Hunnibell denied Rampley from adding his second goal of the game on 85 minutes. The Falcons forward latched onto a long low through-ball down the right wing past the defender before breaking into the box. The forward then rounded the onrushing Bones as he weaved into the centre to shoot, although his, 8-yard, shot at the vacant net was be cleared off the line by a vital sliding, quick, clearance by Hunnibell at his right-hand post. 

The full-time whistle followed seven minutes later as Falcons were crowned Division One champions. 

Stowupland Falcons:- 1 Dale Watling, 2 Will Miles, 3 Louis Hart, 4 Blake Richards, 5 Jon Carver, 6 Luke Ranson, 7 Callum Lee (c), 8 Jordan Dye, 16 Craig Simpson, 10 Ryan Rampley, 11 Baxter Smith. Subs: 12 Jack Minns, 14 Joe Gregory, 15 Matt Chaplin, 9 Craig Lockwood, 17 Robbie James.

Woolverstone United:- 1 George Bone, 2 Darryl Fry, 3 Declan Lee, 4 Aaron Gordon, 5 Jordan Harward (c), 6 Owen Scattery, 7 Seb Willis, 8 Lewis Wilding, 9 Justin Davies, 10 Dan Knights, 11 Jake Summons. Subs: 12 Greg Symes, 14 Alex Gibson, 16 Sam Hunnibell, 17 Luke Fitch.

Goals: C.Lee (20'), Carver (28'), Rampley (35'), Minns (68'), Chaplin (75'); Davies (62').

 

Elmswell Athletic v Moreton Hall Ferals | 27.04.2023 | Premier Logos Bury Sunday League Division One | Grove Lane, Elmswell |

Reigning champions Moreton Hall Ferals came away with an important 3-1 away win to jump two places up to second, leapfrogging hosts Elmswell Athletic in the process to move 2 points behind Premier Logos Bury District Sunday Football League Division One leaders Barrow with a game in hand.

The visitors, who came from 1-0 down to record all three points on Thursday night, had the first chance in the second minute. Jake Peasgood was fed into acres of space on the edge of the box whose shot towards the bottom left-hand corner was kicked away well by the diving goalkeeper.

Two minutes later, Wil Firell broke through into space on the right-hand side of the box who blazed his shot over the bar. 

Jake Peasgood then found space to shoot on the edge of the box, albeit his effort went just wide of the bottom right-hand corner in the 10th minute.

Scott McGavin's well taken swerving free-kick, 3 minutes later, beat the wall before dipping towards goal only for the goalkeeper to take an easy low catch.

At the other end, Firrell broke though onto the byline on the left-hand side of the box but smashed his shot wide into the bottom near side-netting on 16 minutes. 

Jake Peasgood meanwhile weaved into space on the left-hand edge of the box, two minutes later, only to smash his shot narrowly over the top far corner while a good save from Fallows denied Elmswell at the expense of a corner on 24 minutes. A sliced clearance was latched onto by Bullett unmarked from 4-yards out on the left-hand side, whose volley at goal forced an instinctive save from Aston Fallows to smother the ball behind for a corner. 

The resulting corner though found Morgan free at the back post to rifle home on the volley, from a tight angle at close range, into the bottom far corner, 1-0 Elmswell. 

Ferals though were awarded a penalty on 28 minutes after Charlie Glover dinked a great ball over to Callum Dongray on the left-hand side of the box, before the defender was brought down. Regular penalty taker Jake Peasgood stepped up from the spot and duly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to slot home into the bottom left-hand corner, 1-1 after 29 minutes. 

The woodwork then denied Ferals from taking the lead on 32 minutes. Jake Peasgood slid Scott McGavin free into acres of space with a brilliant reverse pass onto the right-hand side of the box, whose shot at a tight angle, from close range, although his first time shot clattered back into play off the near post.

Six minutes later, Charlie Glover was teed up on the edge of the box but saw his first time shot towards the bottom right-hand corner palmed just wide by a good save from goalkeeper Chaplin.

A superb stop meanwhile from Ferals 'keeper Fallows denied Elmswell from retaking the lead on 41 minutes. A dangerous right wing long throw was launched towards a man arriving a yard out from goal, though a great leap from Fallows saw the stopper crucially tip the ball away. 

Peasgood then slid Harry Whiting-Noakes through on the right-hand side of the box with a great defence splitting pass round the corner, where the midfielder's low shot towards the bottom far corner saw Chaplin dive down well at his near post and hold onto the ball well on 42 minutes. 

On the stroke of half-time, Scott McGavin found space to shoot on the edge of the box but fired straight at Chaplin, who comfortably gathered the ball. 

The second half saw more chances at both ends with Ferals having the first chance of the half seven minutes after the restart. The away side won a right wing header which found Peasgood just inside the box whose first time, inch perfect, volley towards the bottom left-hand corner was shovelled away well by the diving Chaplin. 

Jack Brame then rifled a 37-yard free-kick towards the top near corner, forcing Chaplin to make a brilliant save to beat it away on 56 minutes. Elmswell then countered quickly down the other end, as a free shot at goal from point blank range, on the right-hand side, was well smothered by the onrushing Fallows. 

Adam Reeve broke into space on the right-hand side for Elmswell 8 minutes later, but fired just wide of the top near corner from point blank range, while Rob Morgan found space only to see his powerful shot at goal blocked on 67 minutes. 

Back at the other end, Ferals forced another great save out of Chaplin a minute later. Jake Peasgood threaded Glover racing past the defence on the right wing and into the box, but for his fierce shot to be smothered away brilliantly by the diving, advancing, Chaplin. Glover then swung in an audacious right wing ball towards goal moments later, but Chaplin was on hand to dive across and make the save. 

A stunning save from Chaplin thwarted Brame from giving Ferals the lead on 72 minutes. The forward curled a sumptuous free-kick bending superbly into the top right-hand corner but for an incredible diving stop from Elmswell Man Of The Match Chaplin to beat it over for a corner. 

Ferals however took the lead from the resulting corner, George Crowe's right wing low corner found Callum Dongray from point blank range, who stabbed home into the gaping bottom far corner, 2-1 Ferals. 

Ferals quickly raced into a 3-1 lead five minutes later, Harry Whiting-Noakes threaded a brilliant defence splitting pass through to Ferals' Man Of The Match Charlie Glover who burned his defender for pace, before breaking through one on on before driving into the box where he drew the keeper off his line, to slot home into the bottom right-hand corner, 3-1 Ferals.

While Ferals saw a shot dipping underneath the crossbar well held by Chaplin on 79 minutes, the visitors blasted a shot just over the crossbar seconds later as they looked to add to their advantage.

Brame again went close with an audacious free-kick, this time his effort, from 30-yards out on the left-hand edge of the box, went just wide of the top far corner after 81 minutes.

Charlie Glover then had the last chance of the evening on 86 minutes, the winger weaved onto the edge of the box before seeing a low tame shot towards the right-hand corner gathered by Chaplin, as Ferals picked up a big three points nonetheless in an entertaining encounter.

Elmswell Athletic:- 1 Oliver Chaplin, 3 Ben Bassett, 7 Angus Sadler, 5 Sam Bassett, 6 Rob Morgan, 33 Alfie Bullett, 24 Will Firell, 17 Adam Reeve, 25 Luca Taylor-Footer, 8 Jarrad Lebbon, 9 George Chandler. Subs: 12 James Stark, 11 Finbar Rochford, Jacob Davies, 10 Jordan Sylvester.  

Moreton Hall Ferals:- 1 Aston Fallows, 28 Ben Newdick (70' Buckmaster), 20 Callum Dongray, 27 Jack Brame, 88 George Crowe, 8 Charlie Larter (c) (60' Stewart-Hogg), 33 Harry Whiting-Noakes, 17 Scott McGavin (65' Waterson), 2 Lewis Kemp (79' Allen), 15 Charlie Glover, 9 Jake Peasgood (70' Larter). Subs: Dan Allen, 14 James Buckmaster, 7 Fred Stewart-Hogg, 10 Sam Waterson.

Booked: Dongray (35'), Newdick (66'), E (79')

Goals: Morgan (24'); Peasgood (29'pen), Dongray (72'), Glover (77').

Moreton Hall Ferals v Occold | 30.04.2023 | Premier Logos Bury Sunday District Sunday Football League Division One | Hardwick Heath Pitch 3 |

TITLE RACE GOES TO FINAL DAY

Moreton Hall Ferals go into the final Premier Logos Bury District Sunday Football League Division One game of the season with a point lead at the top of the table with a 4-0 win over Occold.

The defending champions take on second placed Barrow in the last game of the Division One season on Sunday (7th May, 10:30am) at Hardwick Heath knowing that just a point would see them retain the league title.

Ferals had the first chance after just 3 minutes as Kieran Twinn's fierce 30-yard strike from the left-hand side was blocked, while Jack Whiting-Noakes smashed a free-kick from the right-hand edge of the box a centimetre wide of the bottom far corner seven minutes later. 

Ferals continued to create chances as a great ball over the top found Callum Dove on the left-hand side of the box, the forward brought the ball down well before seeing his tight angled shot go agonisingly just wide of the bottom far corner on 14 minutes. 

Ferals meanwhile were awarded a penalty on 17 minutes, Fred Stewart-Hogg drove post one foul on the left-hand side of the box before being brought down as he went past the onrushing goalkeeper on the byline. Up stepped James Buckmaster, who sent the keeper the wrong way but slotted the spot-kick a centimetre of the bottom left-hand corner a minute later.  

Ben Newdick then saw his towering far post header from a right wing corner parried away by goalkeeper Hill, while Twinn's shot on the rebound, from the right-hand side of the box, was blocked by Western. The ball fell back to Twinn whose fierce shot arrowed into the bottom right-hand corner to give Ferals the lead on 31 minutes, 1-0 Ferals. 

After being found by Stewart-Hogg, following some neat footwork, Callum Dongray hit an audacious curling strike from the edge of the box just wide of the top far, right-hand, corner on 35 minutes before Twinn's 35-yard strike was deflected towards the top right-hand corner, where Hill took a good catch five minutes later. 

Despite being down to ten men after a sin bin, Ferals continued to have the better chances as Callum Dove was fed through one on one down the right-hand side of the box but his tame shot was hit straight at Hill who held onto the effort at his bottom near corner on 45 minutes. 

Dove tried his luck at goal a minute later, on this occasion his curled shot from the right-hand edge of the box was well held by the goalkeeper at his top near corner. 

Still with a man disadvantage for the first 7 minutes of the second half, Ferals started the second half brightly as a great right wing cross found Harry Whiting-Noakes in space at the near post, though the midfielder's header from 10-yards out went narrowly wide of the bottom near corner on 47 minutes. 

Two minutes later however, Kieran Twinn doubled both his own and his team's tally with a great finish. Jack Whiting-Noakes threaded the forward through with a brilliant low defence splitting pass who drove into acres of space onto the right-hand side of the box, before drawing the keeper out and finishing smartly into the bottom far corner, 2-0 Ferals. 

At the other end, a good save from Ferals goalkeeper Aston Fallows denied Occold from grabbing a goal back on 53 minutes, a great great wing cross found a forward in acres of space at the far post whose close range good header was held well by Fallows at his top right hand corner. 

Ferals though broke up the other end seconds later and added to their lead with a fine goal, Fred Stewart-Hogg - who had just returned to the action following a sin bin - got back up following a challenge on the left-hand side of the box before weaving into space and smashing home brilliantly into the top far, right-hand, corner, 3-0 Ferals. 

Four minutes later, Callum Dove was threaded through smartly down the left wing before driving onto the near side of the box on the spin, only for his shot to be well held by the diving goalkeeper.

Great passing play from the home side saw Stewart-Hogg find fellow goalscorer Twinn, who in turn found Dove in space inside the box whose shot was well held by the goalkeeper at head height on 62 minutes. 

Sunday League and Ferals debutant midfielder George Talbot then drove into space inside the box on the right-hand side, but agonisingly shot a centimetre wide of the bottom far corner a minute later. 

The young midfielder was then involved in the build-up to Ferals' second penalty on 64 minutes, Talbot threaded Twinn through on goal with a perfectly weighted through-ball, the forward then spun past the defender to break through clear on goal before being fouled from behind. Up-stepped Twinn, who completed his hat-trick, sending the keeper the wrong way to dispatch cooly into the bottom left-hand corner, 4-0 Ferals. 

A good save from Hill thwarted Twinn from adding to his hat-trick on 67 minutes, the forward was released through past defence, one on one with Hill on the edge box, although his shot was well saved by the onrushing goalkeeper, who was just inside his box, smothering the shot 

Ferals went close to adding a fifth goal on 71 minutes, a sumptuous left wing corner from Lewis Kemp found Ben Newdick in acres of space at the back post whose karate acrobatic kick went narrowly wide of the top right-hand corner. 

Down the other end a good save from Fallows denied the away side six minutes later, Brown broke through onto the right-hand side of the box only for his shot from a yard out to be blocked behind by the goalkeeper, guarding his near post.

Ferals meanwhile forced a good save out of Hill on 79 minutes, Charlie Glover weaved through smartly onto the left-hand side of the box before curling an audacious strike towards the top far corner, which Hill was equal to, moving across well to palm it away. 

Occold on the other hand found space on the right-hand side of the box to shoot, but the shot lacked power for a routine gather for Fallows a minute later, while Kemp's great right wing free-kick, from 40-yards out, was lifted cleverly over the defence to find Twinn in space at the far post only to lift his first time shot just over the crossbar. 

Bones meanwhile was fed into acres of space on the right-hand side, but shot just over the crossbar from close range on 87 minutes. 

Twinn almost extended Ferals' lead to five, a minute later, the hat-trick hero was released in space on the left-hand side of the box but with an open goal could only shoot just off target off the bottom far corner with Hill able to gather. 

Fallows on the other hand was well placed a minute later to hold Western's low well hit 40-yard free-kick at his bottom left-hand, near, corner.

Ferals switch focus to Sunday's title decider with Barrow, in which they'll aim to make it three straight Division One league title successes. 

Moreton Hall Ferals:- 1 Aston Fallows, 14 James Buckmaster, 20 Callum Dongray (55' Talbot), 4 Taylor Waterson, 28 Ben Newdick (HT' Kemp), 7 Fred Stewart-Hogg (69' Newdick), 33 Harry Whiting-Noakes, 19 Jack Whiting-Noakes, 8 Charlie Larter (c), 6 Kieran Twinn, 11 Callum Dove (66' Glover). Subs: 15 Charlie Glover, 2 Lewis Kemp, 5 George Talbot, 50 Adrian Crowe.

Occold:- 1 Ed Hill, 3 Ryan Howe, 5 George Johnhou, 2 Lee Clements, 7 Isaac Plummer, 10 Ben Caiton, 11 Chris Brown, 6 Adam Clements, 14 Jeremy Bones, 9 Joseph Western, 4 Reece Palfrey (c). Subs: 12 George Green, 17 Tierney White. 

Booked: L.Clements (60').

Sin Binned: Stewart-Hogg (43').

Goals: Twinn (31', 49', 65'pen), Stewart-Hogg (53').