The Stuart Dracup Cup Final, in association with Wensum Print

This season’s final of the Stuart Dracup Cup, in association with Wensum Print will be contested between Horsford and AC Mill Lane.

Horsford started their cup run with a long away trip to face Reffley Youth, a game that they won 7-0. Another away trip followed in the second round, this time to Mundford. A closer victory of 1-0 against the Stags outfit set up a third round tie against Surlingham Tornadoes, a game where they kept another clean sheet, this time scoring six unanswered goals. The quarter-final against Old Catton Juniors saw Horsford concede their only goal of the competition so far in a 4-1 win. Their fifth away tie in a row took them to face Terrington Tigers Youth in the semi-finals. They returned home with a place in the final thanks to scoring two goals and keeping yet another clean sheet.

Horsford Manager, Danny Brown was asked how he feels about reaching the final: “Over the moon. It’s a great achievement especially as we’ve had to rebuild the squad this year as we’d lost a few players. Game by game the team has improved as they have gelled together, and we are looking a really good side who are playing some fantastic football and it is a joy to watch. The County Cup Final is the big one that you want to get to, so we are really pleased to be here.”

AC Mill Lane’s cup run has had it all, convincing victories, penalty shoot-outs and walkovers. Their run started in December with a 3-1 victory against Heigham Park Rangers and then a walkover set up a quarter-final tie away to fellow seaside-based side, Bacton. An impressive 9-1 win handed them their most challenging game to date in the semi-finals, at home to Wroxham. Eighty minutes weren’t enough to separate the two sides meaning that AC Mill Lane required penalties to reach the final at theFDC.

AC Mill Lane Manager, David Papworth on what it would mean to lift the trophy: “This is absolutely huge! This is the furthest the club has ever got in a County Cup competition and for us to win this with the direction the club is heading would be a massive help towards that. We are going to do our best because this is so big for us as a management team and for the boys this is a really big thing for them.”

• Horsford FC v AC Mill Lane FC
• theFDC, Bowthorpe
• 10/06/2021
• Kick Off 7:45pm
• Ticket Only