BUNGAY Town are through to their second MH Goals Suffolk Women’s Cup Final in three years.

They defeated Sudbury Sports 4-1 in their semi-final at Greens Meadow, home of Stowmarket Town FC, on Sunday afternoon, and will now face AFC Sudbury in the final at Portman Road on Tuesday, May 27th.

Play was suspended for nearly 80 minutes mid-way through the second period when Megan Harvey-Cox of Sudbury Sports fell awkwardly after a challenge and damaged her neck and back. An ambulance was called and she was taken to Ipswich Hospital.

Bungay Town's Mia Rose (red shirt, centre) is congratulated after scoring her side's third goal versus Sudbury Sport (sky blue shirts) at Stowmarket Town FC on Sunday. Main photograph: Zoe Gibbons (red shirt), who scored twice for Bungay, drives at the Sudbury Sports' defence.

The Norfolk Women & Girls’ Football League Division One side had got off to the perfect start when the unmarked Hazel Saddington volleyed home a left-wing corner in just the second minute.

Zoe Gibbons made it 2-0 in the 28th minute, racing clear onto Brooke Osborne’s pass to slot home.

Sudbury Sports had chances, most notably when Sophie Kettle got clear but shot wide of the far post, but Mia Rose almost added a third for Bungay when she struck the underside of the crossbar just before the break.

Mia Rose did net the third with a curling effort from distance in the 51st minute, before play was suspended due to Harvey-Cox’s unfortunate injury 15 minutes later.

Gibbson scored her second and Bungay’s fourth goal with a shot into the roof of the net after 71 minutes, before Rhia El Safty reduced the deficit for the Essex County Women’s Football League Division One side in the 89th minute.

Sudbury Sports (sky blue shirts) in possession against Bungay Town (red shirts) during their semi-final at Stowmarket Town FC on Sunday.

Bungay Town manager Nik Rose said afterwards: “I couldn’t be happier. I am really, really pleased with that performance. It was unfortunate with the injury which slowed everything down and it has taken a bit of shine off the victory, and we hope she is alright.

“The early goal was just what we wanted. We wanted to put them under pressure from the beginning and to play some nice football, so it was the perfect start for us.

“Confidence was shining through from most of the players. In some games during the season, we have had one or two things happen and heads go down, but this performance will really boost them for the rest of the season, especially some of the younger players coming through.”

It was the second cup final that Bungay, who lost 6-0 to Needham Market in the final of this competition two years ago, have reached in the past week, having already booked their place in their league cup final.

The Teams

Sudbury Sports: Lea Stephan, Julia Kudlova, Kiran Crozier, Megan Harvey-Cox, Gracie Lambert, Layla Brett, Daisy Warren, Ruby Clark, Sophie Kettle, Joy Hughes, Hattie Childs. Used subs: Lauren Amory, Olivia Payne, Tegan Mortier, Rhia El Safty, Amelia Korkoska.

Bungay Town: Chloe Pearce, Charnelle Riggall, Francesca Heaney, Ruby Roos, Mia Rose, Hazel Saddington, Brooke Osborne, Zoe Gibbons, Selina Rowland, Beth Turner, Abigail Bell. Used subs: Grace Storey, Molly Webb, Maddie Flatman. Unused sub: Sofia Serghiou.

Referee: Calin Rogojan

Attendance: 86.