HOLDERS AFC Sudbury reached a second successive MH Goals Suffolk Women’s Cup final with a 3-0 victory over Needham Market, writes Rob Binns.

They saw off Needham, who play a level below them, at the Millfield, home of Hadleigh United FC, on Friday night, and will now face either Bungay Town or Sudbury Sports in the final at Portman Road.

Eva Frazzoni opened the scoring in the 41st minute in what was a quiet first half before Sudbury put Needham to the sword in the dying minutes with goals from Leonnie Bezant and Frazzoni’s second of the match wrapping up the win.

Sudbury manager Luke Mallett said afterwards: “Eva did what she’s great at, when the going gets tough Eva gets us going. Having someone like that who can grab the game by the scruff of the neck and drag other people up with them is great.”

Eva Frazzoni (yellow shirt, partially obscured by red shirt No.10) heads AFC Sudbury into the lead from a free kick by Sophie Jeffery. Main photograph: Frazzoni (yellow shirt, No.10) fires in her second and Sudbury's third goal. Photographs: Paul Voller

The first chance of the game came the way of Sudbury in the third minute when Jade Barrett was slotted through on goal, but the onrushing Danielle Clarke was equal to her shot to save well with her feet.

The holders went close after 33 minutes when Emily Newcombe picked up a loose ball from a cross and laid it into the feet of Barrett who got a shot away on the turn towards the near bottom corner only to be denied by Clarke.

Needham went straight up the other end where Keira Topple stole possession from Aliyat Lambe and went driving down the right wing before shooting herself from an extremely tight angle, her effort flashing inches wide of the far corner.

Sudbury took the lead five minutes before the break when a short corner was played to Sophie Jeffrey who sent a wicked ball into the danger area. Frazzoni rose highest to meet it and glanced home into the far side netting.

The holders had the first chance of the second half on the hour mark when substitute Lina Nagib kept the ball alive after Clarke’s initial punch clear. She picked out Bezant who fired narrowly wide of the far post from the edge of the box.

They eventually netted their second in the 88th minute when substitute Lily-Jo Hilton picked out Bezant on the edge of the box to rifle a superb strike into the far side netting.

The holders wrapped up the game two minutes later when an initial effort was blocked inside the box and it fell kindly into the path of Frazzoni, who finished confidently into the near top corner for her second of the evening.

Needham Market goalkeeper Danielle Clarke saves from AFC Sudbury's Jade Barrett (yellow shirt) during the semi-final tie at Hadleigh United FC.

Despite the late flurry of goals, Mallett felt the performance needed improvement, which he was confident would come for the final.

He said: “We made a bit of hard work of it, credit to Needham they had a gameplan and they stuck to it. We’ll be disappointed with the performance, especially that first half. For us, it’s about putting in better performances.

“We’re always confident in every game, we’re back to the drawing board in the league and when that cup game comes up at the end of the season we’ll be ready!”

The Teams

AFC Sudbury: Amelia Carter, Eleanor Rossiter, Sophie Jeffrey, Leonnie Bezant, Aliyat Lambe, Alex Penny (sub Ronni Harrison, 60 mins), Maisie Goodwin (sub Kate Edwards, 85 mins), Eva Frazzoni, Emily Newcombe (sub Lina Nagib, 53 mins), Jade Barrett (sub Pheobe Guiver, 82 mins), Megan Edwards (sub Lily-Jo Hilton, 85 mins).

Needham Market: Danielle Clarke, Ashtyn Newley, Charlotte McGrath (sub Alyssia Barrett, 90 mins), Poppy Osborn, Becca Stephenson, Keira Topple, Elise Wade, Annie Posnett (sub Cate Jackson, 62 mins), Chloe Brame (sub Emma Drake, 78 mins), Ciera Flatt (sub Sophia Gillingham, 90 mins), Niamh Thomas (sub Millie Baggott, 90 mins).

Referee: Carl Beer.

Attendance: 221.