HOLDERS Stowmarket Town U23s face a tough test in the Portable Space Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup on Saturday.

They make the short trip to Walsham-le-Willows for a second-round tie against the side that defeated the Old Gold & Blacks in the 2021-22 final of this competition.

Manager Craig ‘Jimmy’ Brown, who guided his side to a treble last season, departed Greens Meadow in the summer to take over as first-team manager at Macron SIL Senior Division champions Henley Athletic.

The match is one of 14 ties taking place on Saturday - Hadleigh United defeated Debenham LC Reserves 2-1 a fortnight ago and Long Melford U23s won 6-0 versus Wickham Market Reserves on Wednesday and are already through.

That 2021-22 final is the only one over the past five seasons not to feature Beccles Town Reserves, and the Fosters Solicitors Anglian Combination League Division Two side will start favourites at home to Kirkley & Pakefield U23s of Division Four South.

Two sides whose first teams are going well at the top of their respective leagues meet at The New Croft, where Haverhill Rovers’ U23s take on Old Newton United Reserves.

Another table-topping side in Framlingham Town U23s, who currently lead the Thurlow Nunn League U23 North Division, will hope to take their league form into the cup at Needham Market U23s, who are ninth in the same division.

Ipswich Wanderers (2nd) travel to 2019-20 and 2020-21 winners Woodbridge Town (5th) while Lowestoft Town Reserves make the long trip to Cornard United Reserves and East Bergholt United Reserves also go across county to Lakenheath U23s. East Bergholt United Reserves (green shirts) are pictured above in action versus Coplestonians (maroon shirts) in an SIL Division Two fixture in September.

The draw for the third round will be announced next week.

Weekend Fixtures

Kick-offs 1.30pm unless stated:

Saturday

Portable Space Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup Second Round: Beccles Town Res v Kirkley & Pakefield U23s, Brandon Town Res v AFC Sudbury U23s, Cornard Utd Res v Lowestoft Town Res, Halesworth Town v Leiston St Margarets Res, Haughley Utd Res v Mutford & Wrentham Res, Haverhill Rovers U23s v Old Newton Utd Res, Henley Athletic Res v Bungay Town Res, Lakenheath U23s v East Bergholt Utd Res, Needham Market U23s v Framlingham Town U23s, Sporting 87 Res v Brantham Athletic U23s, Walsham-le-Willows U23s v Stowmarket Town U23s (3pm), Waveney Res v Ransomes Sports Res, Whitton Utd U23s v Grundisburgh Res (3pm), Woodbridge Town Res v Ipswich Wanderers U23s.