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Lakenheath v Henley Athletic

2pm  17 November 2018

Suffolk Senior Cup, Second Round
Lakenheath 2 Henley Athletic 2, 4-5 on penalties (att 90)

Lakenheath are one of a number of clubs in the east of England who took the opportunity to step up to an expanded step six this season. They've made a good start at the higher level, but were dumped out of the county cup by step seven Henley.

It took a penalty shootout to decide the tie, after 90 entertaining minutes had failed to produce a winner.

Henley, from the Suffolk and Ipswich League, started the game well and took an early lead. Lakenheath equalised with half time approaching, but any thoughts that the more senior club would assert themselves were dispelled when Henley scored again at the start of the second half.

It didn't take Lakenheath long to make it 2-2, and they had the better chances as Henley's players tired towards the end of the game. But there were no more goals until the shootout, which had just gone into sudden death when Lakenheath failed for the second time, sending Henley through.

Lakenheath's ground, The Nest, is unusual. It's in a hollow and the pitch is surrounded on three sides by trees that were showing their attractive autumn colours.

Those three sides were out of bounds to spectators, presumably due to the lack of hard standing, but the one side that is available has a path, a seated stand and the clubhouse and changing rooms.

No floodlights yet, but it is a good ground. That said, I always find one-sided venues frustrating, partly as it's difficult to get varied photographs. I know it's to do with ground grading, but I don't understand why the FA think I can't stand on grass to watch football if I choose to.









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