THE Portable Space Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup Third Round gets under way on Saturday.

Three ties have been brought forward a week to avoid fixture clashes.

Henley Athletic Reserves, who currently sit second in Division Three of the Gateway 14 SIL, will hope to cause an upset when they host Whitton United U23s, sixth in the Thurlow Nunn League U23 North Division.

There’s also a local derby as Hadleigh United U23s entertain AFC Sudbury U23s and the third match pits Kirkley & Pakefield U23s at home to Haverhill Rovers U23s.

The county cup focus shifts to the Best Badges Veterans’ Cup and Shield on Sunday.

Three Lowestoft-based side will be bidding to be among the eight sides in the draw for this season’s Suffolk Veterans’ Cup Quarter-Finals, but all three have away ties in the second round to negotiate first.

All three will head down the East Coast towards Ipswich, with Waveney ETC having the shortest trip to face Woodbridge Town, the 2022-23 winners.

Lowestoft Town’s journey down the A12 will end at AFC Kesgrave, while Waveney ETC will clock up the most mileage as they visit Ipswich Exiles.

That is one of four matches taking place in Ipswich – Foxhall Town make the short trip to holders Ransomes Sports, Ipswich Wanderers entertain Somersham and AFC Hoxne are at Whitton Colts, last season’s runners-up. Whitton Colts (gold shirts) are pictured above in action in last season's final versus Ransomes Sports (red shirts) at Needham Market FC.

The remaining two matches are taking place in West Suffolk – Kedington host Mildenhall Town and Bury Town take on Stour Valley.

There are also eight ties scheduled in the second round of the Best Badges Suffolk Veterans’ Shield on Sunday afternoon.

As this is a new competition for the 2024-25 season, no form guide exists as to who may lift the shield at the end of the season.

There are two Reserve teams – Ransomes Sports and Bury Town – and both have away matches.

Ransomes Sports Reserves make the reverse trip up the A12 to tackle Waveney Athletic, while Bury Town Reserves head across town to face West Gate Elks.

Weekend Fixtures

Kick-offs 1.30pm unless stated:

Saturday

Portable Space Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup Third Round: Hadleigh Utd U23s v AFC Sudbury U23s (3pm), Henley Athletic Res v Whitton Utd U23s, Kirkley & Pakefield U23s v Haverhill Rovers U23s.

Sunday

Best Badges Suffolk Veterans’ Cup Second Round: AFC Kesgrave v Lowestoft Town, Bury Town v Stour Valley, Ipswich Exiles v Lowestoft Casuals, Ipswich Wanderers v Somersham, Kedington v Mildenhall Town, Ransomes Sports v Foxhall Town, Whitton Colts v AFC Hoxne (12 noon), Woodbridge Town v Waveney ETC.

Best Badges Suffolk Veterans’ Shield Second Round: Capel Plough v Aldeburgh Town, Coplestonians v Waveney, Framlingham Town v Kesgrave Kestrels, Martlesham Old Boys v Bramford Utd (12.30pm), Sporting 87 v Walsham-le-Willows, Stowupland Falcons v Old Newton Utd, Waveney Athletic v Ransomes Sports Res, West Gate Elks v Bury Town Res.