Bungay Town 0, Coplestonians 6

THE Black Dogs crashed out of the Suffolk Senior Cup at the first hurdle once again as they were hit for six by Ipswich side Coplestonians.

Three down at the interval, Bungay held the visitors well in the second half, with keeper Gary Foyster never troubled in that period – until three goals came in the final two minutes and added time to put a flattering look on the scoreline.

Lacking the speed of injured strikers Dan Andrew and Ainsleye Baynes, it was not one of Bungay’s better showings this season. Only occasionally did they play the football of which they are capable against a physical Coplestonians outfit. It is now 11 years since Bungay won a Suffolk Senior Cup game.

The trend was set inside four minutes as a player got free on the left and Craig Jennings was on hand to score with a powerful close-range header from the cross – Foyster getting a hand to the ball which rolled over the line.

As the Black Dogs tried to get on terms Aidan Lowe, Matt Holmes and Craig Hunting all tried their luck without hitting the target, and the home side had a let-off when the ball fell loose in the six-yard box, but a forward could only prod it wide.

The visitors went 2-0 up in the 31st minute as Shaun Whiteman conceded a penalty and Dan Tatum scored from the spot. Right on half-time Foyster did well to turn a snapshot over the bar, but from the corner Jason Burnett was left unmarked to head home from close range.

Jennings went close with a header early in the second half, but Bungay steadied their ship and saw a lot of the ball without being able to make any real headway.

Dale Gowing tested the keeper with an angled shot and later the keeper saved low down from the same player and Bungay contained the visitors’ attack well.

But it was all undone in the last few minutes. With two minutes of normal time left Jennings scored direct from a free-kick, and as the game moved into injury time Shaun Rea converted another free-kick as a home player ducked under the ball when Foyster expected him to head clear.

There was still time for Jennings to curl a sixth into the top corner to complete his hat-trick.

Bungay: G Foyster, M Shipley, C Hunting, S Whiteman, M Holmes, D Gowing, K Riches, D Scriven, A Lowe (S Batt), C Jones (G Perez-Hunt), R Tuffs.

Tomorrow, Bungay visit Reepham Town in the Anglian Combination Division One.