JAKE Hughes scored twice in the second period as Woodbridge Town won the 2019-20 Days Sports Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup Final.

The young Woodpeckers, who trailed 1-0 at the interval, came back to beat Beccles Town 2-1 in the delayed final at Crown Meadow, home of Lowestoft Town FC, on Monday night.

An entertaining final saw both sides create plenty of chances and the woodwork struck a total of five times.

It was Beccles who were the first to be denied, Ray Masters seeing his shot from the edge of the penalty area rebound off the crossbar and to safety after 12 minutes.

Six minutes later it was Woodbridge who came close to breaking the deadlock as Thomas Wickham acrobatically turned a looping Hughes header against the bar.

Beccles Town players celebrate after taking the lead through Luke Squires in the final against Woodbridge Town. Photograph: Steve Wood

Woodbridge’s Joe Allum then saw his header strike the outside of the far post after 20 minutes.

The Thurlow Nunn Reserve League side, who had lost to Stowmarket Town in their only previous final appearance in the 2016-17 season, then had two great chances to take the lead.

A quick break in the 31st minute saw Hughes in the clear but his rising drive struck the side netting, rather than the back of the net.

Six minutes later a well-worked move down the left ended with Hughes sending a low cross to the far post where Harry Archer looked certain to score, but Wickham made a superb block.

Beccles got their noses in front four minutes before the break when Lee Squires stooped in the penalty area to send a low header beyond Jack Robinson.

Woodbridge were level within seconds of the restart, winger Dan Mace, who had switched to the right flank, got to the goalline and cut the ball back for Hughes to sidefoot home.

Masters and Beccles were denied by the woodwork for a second time soon after, the shot from outside the area coming back off the face of the far post.

Beccles Town (yellow shirts) put pressure on the Woodbridge Town (black & white striped shirts) goal in the second-half. Photograph: Steve Wood

Woodbridge edged ahead on the hour as Hughes took full advantage of a defensive slip to bear down on goal and expertly lift the ball over the advancing Wickham and just inside the near post.

Robinson then saved well and then follow-up from Elliot Udell hit the base of the post to condemn the Anglian Combination Division Three outfit to defeat in their first Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup Final.

For Woodbridge Town manager Aren Howell it was a second victory in three seasons in the competition, after guiding Felixstowe & Walton United to victory in the 2017-18 final.

The Teams

Beccles Town Reserves: Thomas Wickham, Jake Francis, Aron Jones, Lewis Holland, George Dormedy-Horn, Lee Squires, Nathan Woods, Elliot Udell, Josh Cable, Ray Masters, Kyle Godbold. Used subs: Ewan Gallagher, Josh Riley. Unused subs: Jack Gallagher, Callum Holmes, Finley Boreham.

Woodbridge Town Reserves: Jack Robinson, Josiah Laws, Lamon Haynes-Sparkes, Tyler Howell, Josh Allum, Joe Allum, Jake Hughes, Callum Meadows, Hayden Rayfield, Harry Archer, Dan Mace. Used sub: Matt Bloom. Unused subs: Bradley Potter, Tom Shannon, Ethan Broom, Matthew Macauley Howell.

Referee: Irvin Flaherty.

Attendance: 163.