BILDESTON Rangers are in dreamland after reaching the semi-finals of the CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup for the first time.

Two second-half goals by player-manager David ‘Bart’ Lorimer saw ten-man Bildeston defeat Trimley Red Devils in Saturday’s quarter-final tie at Stennetts Playing Field.

The visitors more than avenged a 7-1 league loss inflicted on them at the same venue earlier in the season in what was a feisty encounter between these two Macron SIL Senior Division sides in which nine players were booked.

After George Buxton received his marching orders for a second yellow card just before the hour mark, Bildeston responded the better of the two sides.

Bildeston Rangers' goalkeeper Charlie de Lara-Bell makes a fine save to deny a dipping effort from Trimley Red Devils' striker Ross Driver (red shirt, No.10) during Saturday's CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup Quarter-Final tie. Main Photograph: Bildeston's player-manager David 'Bart' Lorimer (blue shirt, No.7) fires home his second goal following a long throw. Photographs: Paul Voller

Lorimer kept his cool to sidefoot home the opening goal after 69 minutes following Daryl Alexander’s well-judged ball over the top of the defence and then volleyed home the second six minutes later direct from Kalum Benham’s long throw.

Bildeston, who lost left-back Stu Brooks to a hamstring injury after 14 minutes, were indebted to keeper Charlie de-Lara-Bell’s fine save five minutes earlier, tipping over Ross Daniels’ dipping effort.

Alexander then squandered Bildeston’s best chance of the half by lifting his shot over the crossbar after Ben Punter came off his line and spilled de Lara-Bell’s free-kick from inside his own half.

Punter saved well at his near post from Lorimer at the start of the second period, while at the other end Ross Driver volleyed over and Matt West’s volley struck the top of the crossbar before Lorimer broke the deadlock.

Lorimer said afterwards: “We were spanked 7-1 the last time we played here, but we have changed our formation since then and came with a plan.

“We made ourselves hard to break down by cutting off balls from the flanks so they had to play from the back and go long. We knew we could then hit them on the counter or nick a goal from a set piece.”

Describing his two goals Lorimer said: “The first one was a lovely knock over the top by Daryl and after hitting two with my left foot, I decided to cut back on my right and the ball went through the defender’s legs and I was then able to find the bottom corner.

“The second one was straight from the training ground. Instead of staying in close to goal I came out and the ball fell perfectly for me from the throw in to hit first time.”

David 'Bart' Lorimer (blue shirt, No.7) sidefoots his first goal wide of Trimley Red Devils' goalkeeper Ben Punter. Photograph. Paul Voller

Lorimer, who admitted he was reduced to tears by his side’s achievement, continued: “Five years ago the club was bottom of Division Two of the SIL and was going to fold.

“We have come a long way since then and I wouldn’t have dreamt it if you had said we would reach the semi-finals of the Suffolk Senior Cup.

“I am so proud of my family (father David Lorimer Senior was manager prior to him taking over at the start of the 2019-20 season) and the club words can’t explain how I feel. I am over the moon and the village will be buzzing tonight!”

Trimley Red Devils’ manager Craig Chidlow said: “It was one of those days where we didn’t deserve to win because we didn’t put the ball in the back of the net. It is all about scoring goals and they took their two chances.

“We have played against sides before on several occasions when they have gone down to ten men and struggled. I don’t know what it is, but we seem to switch off.

“You need a bit of luck in cup matches and it didn’t go our way today, whereas in previous rounds maybe it did.”

The Teams

Trimley Red Devils: Ben Punter, Matt West, Alex Chidlow (sub Charlie Driver, 57 mins), James Harbut, Jake Hollis, Sam Garwood (sub John Boorman, 75 mins), Ryan Chidlow, Tommy Smith (sub Dan Clifford 82 mins), Alex Breadman, Ross Driver, Sam Osborne. Unused sub: Josh Hewitt.

Bildeston Rangers: Charlie de Lara-Bell, Alfie Smith, Stu Brooks (sub Kalum Benham, 14 mins), Trev Vinyard, Tim Rix, Shane Wanmer, David Lorimer, Daryl Alexander, George Buxton, Lloyd Dodsworth (sub Dale Munson, 75 mins), Nathan Styles (sub Chris Cowan, 54 mins). Unused subs: Richard Beckett, Ben Goodchild.

Referee: Ed Frazer.

Elsewhere, both Framlingham Town and Lakenheath staged fightbacks to reach the final four.

Framlingham Town trailed 2-0 at AFC Sudbury Reserves before winning 3-2 and Lakenheath also came from two goals down to beat Beccles Town 4-2.

Holders Ipswich Wanderers had a more comfortable path through to the semi-finals, winning 3-0 at Halesworth Town.

The semi-final draw will be announced on the Suffolk FA website at 11am on Monday along with the semi-final draws for the Total Football Suffolk Junior Cup, the Portable Space Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup, the Best Badges Suffolk Veterans’ Cup, the Blue Square Solutions Suffolk Boys’ U18 Midweek Cup and the quarter-final draw for the McDonald’s Suffolk Primary Cup.

CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup Quarter-Final Results: AFC Sudbury Res 2 Framlingham Town 3, Halesworth Town 0 Ipswich Wanderers 3, Lakenheath 4 Beccles Town 2, Trimley Red Devils 0 Bildeston Rangers 2.