Lowestoft Town ran themselves into the ground for the town in a brave and determined performance which saw them edged out of the Suffolk Women's Cup at the Semi Final stage by AFC Sudbury.

Sudbury, from three divisions higher than Lowestoft, edged a tight Semi Final contest 3-1, two late first half goals looked to have Sudbury on route to the Final but Abi Bell responded within 60 seconds to half the deficit in a contest Lowestoft were competitive in throughout. A third Sudbury goal mid way through the second half secured their place in the final but Lowestoft kept them honest through the entirety of the afternoon. Due to injuries, Lowestoft played the final 20 minutes or more with 10 players and Sudbury were unable to increase the scoreline with a player advantage.

Lowestoft from the Tier 7 Norfolk County League reached this Semi Final stage following an epic penalty shootout win at Ipswich Valley Rangers in the Quarter Finals way back in January. The shootout success saw them set up this showpiece Semi Final occasion with Tier 4 National League side AFC Sudbury. The fixture was the ultimate nothing to lose, everything to gain occasion for Lowestoft, Lowestoft were relishing the challenge against a Sudbury side who had all the pressure and nothing to gain from an afternoon where all the expectation was on them.

Lowestoft went into this occasion without legendary stalwart midfielder Selina Rowland through suspension, The emerging young talent Louise Nichols was cup tied, stars Brooke Osborne and Zoe Gibbons still on their way back from extended periods out for personal reasons, Lauren Purling and Mia Wilson also unavailable. Lowestoft were truly up against it if they weren't already against the National League outfit.

Due to a wide magnitude of reasons, Lowestoft came with just 13, ended with 10, by the end probably only 7 were fit to continue. They were up against a Sudbury side littered with options including 5 on the bench. This was almost the impossible task but Lowestoft were here to let Sudbury know what they were about and they certainly did. The game saw several players playing out of position to help the cause, Lucy Eagle covering Rowland's regular midfield role and Hazel Saddington filling in at Left back with captain Charnelle Riggall doing what captains do and playing where required at Centre Back to ensure all positions were covered as best as possible.

The game played on neutral ground at Debenham Leisure Centre in wonderful sunshine saw a huge contingent of Lowestoft supporters travel to support the Trawler Girls in blue. There was little to write home about in the first 40 minutes as both teams cancelled each other out in a first half of little action of note. Bethany Turner was through on goal early in the contest but couldn't connect as she would have liked with ball and the shot went comfortably wide of the goal.

Lowestoft kept their shape brilliantly all afternoon, but particularly during the first half in what was a colossus effort from the team.

The deadlock was broken in the 40th minute when a ball through found Amy-Leigh Abrehart who slotted beyond Lowestoft keeper Chloe Pearce to give Sudbury the lead. The lead was doubled four minutes later when Abrehart put in a corner which went off Lowestoft keeper Pearce for an own goal. Sudbury couldn't believe their good fortune and the second goal was not even celebrated by the players in Yellow.

Two goals behind right on Half time against a side from three leagues higher, against most opposition this would have been game done, Sudbury thought they were heading in for a comfortable 2-0 Half Time chat, but this is Lowestoft a team that plays together and fights for each other and never gives up.

Within 60 seconds of the own goal, Abi Bell who had travelled all the way from London on the morning of the game, was more alert than the Sudbury back line and pounced on some dreadful defending, Bell got the ball, danced around the keeper and slotted home beautifully to half the deficit and remind Sudbury this was going to be anything but a leisurely Sunday afternoon at Debenham Leisure Centre.

Lowestoft went in buzzing and came out firing for the second half, Mia Rose crossed from the right early in the Half and almost looped the ball into the goal but Peachy in the Sudbury goal had to be at full stretch to tip it away and prevent Lowestoft from levelling up the game.

Lowestoft's belief and confidence was sky high and all players continued to play their hearts out for the club, on 65 minutes the game was put beyond Lowestoft when a cross from Jeffery was wiped in and found Jess Allen who volleyed into the net to increase the advantage to two goals again.

Unfortunately Lauren Goulder and Lucy Eagle had to come off injured which saw only two subs Sofia Serghiou and Millie Rose introduced. Lowestoft were in the rare situation of playing in a game which had a fourth official. Good friend of the club, Last Year's final referee and talented National League official Ella Karkosa was on electronic board duty, Karkosa with her friendly and quirky personality brought several funny moments to the afternoon including a 6 7 like meme appearing on the subs board when it was trying to be worked for the changes.

Both Serghiou and Rose like the other 11 ran themselves into the ground for the cause, Serghiou putting in several brilliant tackles and winning the ball. Rose also done amazing and made it hard for Sudbury to break through down her side of the pitch. As the minutes ticked by, the intense levels of the work rate and effort Lowestoft had to put in began to show, Mia Rose had to come off injured which saw Lowestoft down to 10 players for the final 20 minutes plus stoppage time. Centre Backs Riggall and Fran Heaney also struggling in what was a team of around 7 fit players for the final 20 minutes against National League opposition.

With the game over and no chance of Lowestoft getting back into it due to their lack of numbers and players playing through injury, the remaining part of the game was about not conceding further. A superb rear guard action with Chloe Pearce in goal on her Birthday, Riggall, Heaney, Millie Rose and Player of the Match Marcie Prettyman an absolute Rolls Royce of a player at right back, she is every week but even Prettyman found new levels to prevent Sudbury getting through to the goal.

The full time whistle went with the score Lowestoft Town 1-3 AFC Sudbury and Sudbury had failed to score against Lowestoft in the final 20 minutes when Lowestoft had 10 players on the pitch, a successful rear guard action in the face of adversity and this was something to be very proud of.

The whole game was amazing from every single Trawler Girl and what can you say about the last 20 minutes, it was an incredible effort, 10 players, only 7 that arguably would have been deemed fit, but players playing through the pain barrier for the cause, it was truly inspirational to see. This game mattered for Lowestoft, it was about showing the club they were right to support a Ladies team this season, that this team has ambitions to be promoted and compete at a higher level, and are capable of doing so. It was about doing the large contingent of friends and family watching proud and most importantly about doing themselves proud, all these were achieved in abundance and more. Lowestoft Town left the pitch to a fully deserving standing ovation.

The week ahead will be all about rest and recovery with the focus now switching back to the League and five more final matches to conclude the season. Lowestoft need five points from their final five matches to guarantee the title, the first of those five matches is away to Aylsham on Sunday 26th April with a 2.00pm kick off.

Up the Trawler Girls!

By Darrell Allen