Bungay Town 2, Mattishall 6THE Black Dogs succumbed to a second-half barrage from Mattishall to bow out of the Anglian Combination Senior Knock-Out Cup in the first round.

Bungay Town 2, Mattishall 6

THE Black Dogs succumbed to a second-half barrage from Mattishall to bow out of the Anglian Combination Senior Knock-Out Cup in the first round.

But the scoreline from Tuesday's match hides a good performance by the young Bungay team - the average age was barely 20, with six U18s in the squad - who took the lead against a side with a 100 percent record in the premier division this season, and who had conceded only one goal previously.

And only the woodwork prevented them taking a 2-0 lead as they played some fast football, with first-time interpassing.

In the end the Norfolk Senior Cup holders were worthy winners, but Bungay made sure they knew they had been in a game.

Home keeper Gary Foyster was busy early on, keeping out good efforts from Andy Fulcher and Danny Palmer, and captain Mark Shipley got in a vital tackle to keep Fulcher out on another occasion.

But Bungay came into the game and the impressive Shaun Whiteman sent Danny Andrew racing through, only to see the keeper kick clear in the nick of time. But the Black Dogs were ahead in the 32nd minute as a great long ball from Dale Gowing sent Russell Tuffs clear and he neatly nicked the ball past the advancing keeper.

Five minutes later Kevin Riches was desperately unlucky to see his free-kick on the edge of the area turned against the underside of the bar by the keeper and hacked clear by a defender. But that clearance set Mattishall on the attack and a well-struck shot from Palmer was too strong for Foyster and squirmed through his hands into the net.

Early in the second half Tuffs seemed to be brought down in the six-yard box after working his way through on the right, but the referee waved play on, and Mattishall took the lead in the 51st minute as Fulcher surged through on a solo run to slide the ball past Foyster.

Seven minutes later Fulcher got his second with a fierce drive from the acutest of angles out on the right. It was 4-1 a minute later as Rob Connelley beat the keeper with low drive.

Bungay continued to work hard and Dan Scriven weaved his way into the box only to see his pull back blocked, and soon after the keeper thwarted a similar effort form Andrew.

A quick break down the left ended with a low cross which beat the stranded Foyster to give Ben Lewis a simple tap in. Still the Black Dogs continued to fight and Whiteman saw an effort headed off the line before Scriven did pull one back, heading in from almost on the line after a good run and shot by Thomas Cole had opened up the Mattishall defence. But again the visitors struck back quickly as Fulcher completed his hat-trick and the scoring, finishing off a low cross the defence probably should have cleared before it reached him. But Bungay could be proud of many aspects of their performance.

Bungay first team have no game tomorrow. Bungay Reserves visit Sheringham Reserves and Bungay A visit Telecom Rovers. The first Wightman-King Cup game is at the Maltings on Tuesday evening between Halesworth and Norton, and on Thursday evening entertain Harford Tornadoes in the preliminary round of the Ridgeon's Youth Floodlit League Cup (7.45pm).

Bungay Reserves 0, Hemsby 2

BUNGAY Reserves lost to a good Hemsby side on Saturday, two goals in a minute midway through the first half proving enough for the visitors who dominated possession in the first period with Bungay keeper Gary Shaw saving well.

The home side improved in the second half and both Charlie Jones and

Aidan Lowe had chances to pull a goal back but the visitors held on to claim the three points.