LONG Melford will not ‘park the bus’ at Needham Market in their Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup tie.

The two sides meet at the Ecologic Stadium Blooomfields on Tuesday night in their delayed second-round meeting, which was postponed a week ago due to a waterlogged pitch, kick-off 7.45pm.

Needham Market, who have won the competition in each of the last four seasons, go into the match off the back of a morale-boosting 3-0 victory over South Shields in National League North on Saturday.

Long Melford, on the other hand, are without a win in eight games following their 3-0 loss at Downham Town and have registered just one victory in 13 matches in the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division this season.

It is the third season running they have faced each other in the competition, Needham winning 3-2 at Stoneylands in the second round last season and 3-1 at home in the quarter-finals in the 2002-23 season.

Despite the fact that they will be playing a side three leagues higher, manager Liam Joyce, who succeeded Dave Hennessey in May, wants his young side to go and express themselves.

The former AFC Sudbury and Braintree Town coach said: “They are a National League North side and I have been around National League South, so I know what to expect in terms of the physicality and quality of players we will be up against.

“It does give us an opportunity to look at other players. I am not going to go there and park the bus. That may sound crazy, but we go there as complete underdogs and I want us to go there and play football.

“If we lose 5-0, we lose 5-0, but as long as we go and play with no fear, express ourselves and play the right way I will be happy.

“I will allow them to go and play and make mistakes as it is important to do that. I don’t want us to go there and players be uptight and put themselves under pressure as it will only be a matter of time before you concede.”

Joyce, who will be missing four or five players, said the tie will give him the opportunity to look at others who have not featured much so far but deserve some game time.

One player who will start is young goalkeeper Harrison Crowther, who is the club’s third keeper this season after the previous two both suffered dislocated shoulders.

The winners of Tuesday’s tie will be at home to Ipswich Wanderers in the quarter-finals.

Long Melford (black & white striped shirts) are pictured above in action versus Hullbridge Sports (yellow & green quartered shirts) in this season’s FA Vase at Stoneylands. The visitors won 2-0.

There were only two county cup matches played at the weekend, with Kesgrave Kestrels and Ipswich Wanderers Development both progressing to the second round of the Parkers Pitches Suffolk Junior Cup.

Weekend Results

Parkers Pitches Suffolk Junior Cup First Round: Kesgrave Kestrels 3 Claydon 0, Kessingland 0 Ipswich Wanderers Development 5.

Midweek Fixture

Tuesday

Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup Second Round: Needham Market v Long Melford (7.45pm).