Manager Dave Cannon reflects on AFC Sudbury Reserves’ 2-0 defeat to Framlingham Town in the Suffolk Senior Cup final at Colchester United

Dave Cannon was proud of how his young AFC Sudbury Reserves side handled the occasion of Friday’s CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup final.

The Yellows were beaten 2-0 by their Thurlow Nunn League First Division North rivals Framlingham Town, in the decider of the county cup competition which was staged at Colchester United’s JobServe Community Stadium.

But the final scoreline does not tell the full story of the 90 minutes, with Cannon’s side having created a catalogue of chances to score before the deadlock was broken by Fram’s leading goalscorer Max Willett after 71 minutes.

Sudbury were denied several times by Fram goalkeeper Edyn Cummings, and also hit the crossbar and had another effort cleared off the line, with the Castlemen grabbing a second through substitute Oliver Smith deep into added time.

“We had good territory and we created chances,” manager Cannon reflected.

“We just didn’t do the last bit and then Framlingham did. They took their chances and that’s game, set and match in football.

“It was disappointing, but I was pleased with how they played.

“Sometimes with young players on a big pitch and in a big competition they don’t do themselves justice.

“They didn’t freeze in the moment. They just didn’t take their chances at the right times, and had they it would have been a completely different match.”

Cannon’s side had chalked up wins against Waveney (2-0), Sporting 87 (2-1), Ransomes Sports (3-0) and Halesworth Town (3-2) to reach the final of the Suffolk Senior Cup for the first time.

The run came during a season which also saw Sudbury finish eighth in the First Division North, the highest finish in the team’s 10-year stint so far playing in the Thurlow Nunn League.

Almost all of Friday’s squad will be eligible to represent AFC Sudbury Under-18s in the final of the Veo Suffolk Boys’ Under-18 Midweek Cup against Needham Market, also being held at Colchester United, on Wednesday.

“There’s only four of them who are not able to play,” Cannon said.

“I had to pick a squad from 26 players and I had some really good players to disappoint and say you’re not in the squad of 16, but some of those could get the opportunity to be a part in Wednesday’s squad.

“I think ultimately the experience of Friday will enhance them as players. It won’t feel like it now, but it will make them better and it might be on Wednesday we see the benefit of it, or some day in the future.

“For them to experience such a big competition and at such a young age, I’m looking forward to seeing where their journeys go from here.

“That’s the buzz for me in this job. In a few years you can say they’ve played in a cup final at 16 and now they’re doing this or they’re doing that.

“Some of them will go on to have fantastic careers in our football club and other football clubs.”