TWO goals in the space of ten first-half minutes saw Trimley Red Devils win the CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup for the first time.

They defeated Thurlow Nunn League Division One North opponents Leiston Under-23s 2-0 in Wednesday’s showpiece final at Portman Road to cap off a memorable season after finishing fourth in the Macron SIL Senior Division - their highest ever position.

Shane Murphy put his side in front in the 25th minute when he rose at the far post to send a header back across goal and into the net from Ross Driver’s right-wing cross at the end of a good team move.

Curtis Harvey, who joined the club at the start of the season, then netted his 27th goal of the campaign with an unerring finish from the edge of the penalty area after Leiston had conceded possession.

Shane Murphy (red shirt) heads home the opening goal for Trimley Red Devils. Main Photograph: Trimley Red Devils celebrate after being presented with the trophy. Photographs: Paul Voller

Murphy had hit the outside of the near post two minutes before as Trimley carried a far greater goal threat throughout than their higher-league opponents.

It was only after a raft of substitutions on both side that Leiston U23s put the Trimley defence under pressure in the final quarter of the match, but they failed to trouble goalkeeper Ben Punter.

Five of Trimley’s starting line-up were in the side that lost 3-2 to AFC Kesgrave in the Suffolk Junior Cup Final six years ago after leading 2-0 with 18 minutes remaining.

There never looked any danger that they would surrender their two-goal advantage this time as they produced a very accomplished performance against opponents who, playing then as Leiston Reserves, lost 1-0 to Ipswich Wanderers in the final of this competition two years ago.

Shane Murphy (red shirt, No.8) strikes the near post as Trimley Red Devils go close to making it 2-0 versus Leiston Under-23s (blue shirts) in the final. Photograph: Paul Voller

Anthony Fryatt, who is a member of the management team along with Craig Chidlow and Andy Pirie, said: “This means everything to the club. Everyone has worked so hard this season and we are very proud at what we have achieved.

“Besides the two goals we hit the post and created other chances and overall we played very well.

“They gave us a scare in the last 20 minutes and credit to them for keeping going to the end, but our keeper has not really had a save to make and that was because there were some outstanding individual performances all along the back four.

“We have kept a lot of clean sheets in the last 10 or 12 games which has given us a strong platform to build on and we did that again tonight.”

Fryatt was especially pleased with the quality of the two goals that won the cup for the village side who were appearing in their first Senior Cup Final.

He said: “The first one was such a good team goal, and we are looking forward to watching that back on our Veo camera as we strung a lot of passes together in the build-up, and it was a great header from Shane Murphy.

“The second was a great strike. You can’t keep Curtis Harvey quiet for too long! He had a sniff from 20 yards and he has rifled it home and showed why he is the league’s leading scorer.”

Curtis Harvey (red shirt, no.10) buries his shot beyond the reach of Leiston Under-23s goalkeeper Kev Holland to put Trimley Red Devils 2-0 ahead in Wednesday's final at Portman Road. Photograph: Paul Voller

Leiston U23s manager Neil Smye said: “I am more disappointed with the performance than the result. We were not brave enough. We normally play through the thirds, but tonight we went too long.

“We gave the ball away too cheaply. For the first goal we were in possession and gave the ball away and then did the same for the second one.

“Over the 90 minutes their keeper never had one shot to save, and it was only in the last 15-20 minutes that we started to get on the front foot.

“I know we are not an experienced team, but it was our more experienced players who froze a bit on the night.

“Warren Buckman was outstanding for a 16-year-old, and Tom Stacey, who is also 16, got us playing when he came on, while Jonathan Shannon did very well and Billy Jordan defended well.”

The cup and medals were presented by former Ipswich Town and England captain Terry Butcher, Suffolk FA President David Sheepshanks, Suffolk FA Chair Phil Lawler and Michael Gardener of competition sponsors CNet Training.

The Teams

Trimley Red Devils: Ben Punter, Ross Driver, Josh Hewitt, Sam Osborne (sub Aaron Durrant, 57 mins, Matt West (sub Max Poole, 76 mins), Sam Garwood, Ryan Chidlow, Shane Murphy (sub Nathan Baker, 64 mins), Josh Knight (sub Daniel Stagg, 64 mins), Curtis Harvey, Jordan Clarke (sub Dom Arnold, 85 mins).

Leiston U23s: Kev Holland, Kian Wilson, Elliott Young, Billy Jordan, Ethan Oldman (sub Max Crane, 73 mins), Cameron Young (sub Tom Stacey, 64 mins), Josh Yaxley (sub Ashdon Fowler, 64 mins), Warren Buckman, Mackenzie Travis (sub Jonathan Shannon, 82 mins), Matt Mullis (sub Reagan King, 46 mins), Ollie Griggs.

Referee: Lee Kendrick.

Attendance: 874.