The current FA County Youth Cup winners played a magnificent first half enjoying the majority of play, securing their first goal in the first minute, through a penalty taken from Tom Law for a foul in the penalty box.
13 minutes later Anton Hemmings brought the home team up 2-0, scoring a wonderful half volley which shot straight through the right hand side of goal.
With Birmingham in the lead with a 2 goal cushion, the home team were in cruise control passing comfortably amongst each other whilst Suffolk were left chasing the ball. In the 20th minute, Birmingham pushed forward once again via Tom Weale who seeped through the Suffolk defences and unleashed a powerful shot outside the box, however his shot went straight to the hands of the keeper.
With 15 minutes to the half way mark Suffolk County FA began to fight back with Jack Garrod leading the way. The skipper ran half the length of the pitch, passing through the Birmingham defence, and ended up on the edge of the Birmingham penalty box were he found himself unmarked. However his shot went straight to the hands of the keeper much to the dismay of his Suffolk team mates and fans, as this was their only real threat at goal and a great opportunity to fight back.
In reply, Birmingham FA went forth one more time. With 7 minutes to half time, Birmingham’s Tom Law scored from a rebound shot from the Suffolk keepers legs to give Birmingham a 3-0 goal lead as the game went to half time.
The second half was all go from the starting whistle with Suffolk County FA clearly motivated to stay in the competition despite the 3-0 deficit.
First to step forward in the fight back was Suffolk’s Danny Swain, who unleashed a devil of a ball at the Birmingham goal which literally whistled over the bar much to the dismay of the Suffolk fans.
In the 55th minute Suffolk’s captain Danny Hitching began the Suffolk fight back bringing the away team 3- 1 up with a delightful goal. Moments later James Lane headed home a cross to make the score line 3-2.
Birmingham were now feeling the heat as Suffolk looked ever dangerous in each of their attacks, as they looked for another goal to level the score line.
With 15 minutes on the clock, Suffolk’s Alex’s Holmes levelled the teams with a delightful shot which simply rolled passed the Birmingham keeper into the back of the net to leave the Birmingham County players and fans flabbergasted.
With a minute to the full time whistle James Lane scored for Suffolk in the last minute to leave the score line 3- 4
It was a wonderful game for the neutral fan, with fast paced action and goals of plenty. Suffolk really showed courage in the second half which supported the notion that football really is a game of two halves!.
Squad List:
Birmingham County FA Tom Evans, Nathan Demonte, Chris Laite, Paul Sullivan, Nick Smith, Tom giddings, Jamey Osbourne, Jacob Barnes, Danny Dineen, Tom Law, Ollie Casey, Tom Collins, Anton Hemmings, Jake Brown, Tom Wheale, Jordan Brown, Liam Smith, Jay Chambers, Ian Kimberley, Dale Faultless
Suffolk County FA: Nick Pope, Danny Hithing, Jack Wilkinson, Jack Garrod, Luke Wade, Alex Holmes, Joe Clarke, James Lane, Josh Curry, Joe Boreham, Danny Swain, Shane Risbvy, Jed Winfield