Ryan Swallow’s double helped secure Haverhill Borough’s second visit to the semi final of the Suffolk Senior Cup in two years, as they overcame Thurlow Nunn Division One rivals, Woodbridge Town 3-1 at Notcutts Park on Saturday.
Borough started the quicker of the two sides and were two goals to the good inside the first 15 minutes.
In the fifth minute, after a fine through ball from Swallow, Craig Pruden, on the right wing, beat a defender before crossing for Charlie Holmes to scramble home the ball, with Matt Staines also in attendance.
Seven minutes later and Borough’s lead was doubled. After a long kick from goalkeeper Paul Walker, Holmes flicked on the ball to Swallow who fired low past Alfie Stronge in the Woodbridge goal.
Jamie Scales’ Woodbridge finally got into the game after this second setback and Walker needed to be at his best to deny the prolific Matt Mackenzie’s effort from the edge of the penalty area on 15 minutes.
The hosts pulled a goal back 10 minutes later when Liam Scopes glanced in a header from a deep Sean Rea cross.
Swallow was unlucky not to widen Borough’s advantage as the half came to an end, forcing Stronge into a fine save, the goalkeeper tipping the forward’s powerful shot from the edge of the box over the bar.
Woodbridge pressed Borough hard in the early minutes of the second half, although with the defence holding firm, Borough were always a threat on the counter-attack.
A speculative Casey Phillips lob from the edge of the penalty area thudded against the post and rolled clear with goalkeeper Stronge beaten, in the 51st minute, before both Staines and Pruden had further chances blocked for Borough.
The game was settled in the 82nd minute after good work on the left wing by James Regan saw the impressive Swallow fire home the resulting cross to put the visitors 3-1 to the good and out of Woodbridge’s reach.
Rory Bone had a chance to extend the Borough lead before firing just over after a quick Borough break, and the game ended with Walker saving from Woodbridge substitute Ryan Keeble.
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