AC Mill Lane went into the Burgess Cup Final replay against Great Yarmouth Academy with a much changed squad due to work commitments and the clash with the Norwich City v Ipswich Town match.

With the initial game abandoned due to a floodlight failure at The Wellesley just moments before the penalty shoot-out was to due take place following a 1-1 draw after extra time, it appeared that it would be another close game but it was far from it, with Mill Lane winning 6-1.

AC started at a high tempo, with a front four of Stanton, Shreeve, Currell and Banyard looking dangerous, and it was the latter who gave AC the lead. A perfectly weighted throughball from Tom Gardiner found Banyard who fired home. Gardiner was influential again just moments later when he played through Alex Shreeve who converted coolly to make it 2-0.

It wasn’t long before the ball was in the back of the Bloaters’ net again. A long ball from Steve Hemp was missed by the opposition defender before Banyard chipped through to Jake Currell who fired a powerful volley with his weaker left foot into the roof of the net to make it 3-0. Currell turned provider just moments later when his flick-on from another Hemp delivery found Banyard who drilled home to send AC into a well deserved 4-0 half time lead.

The second half saw AC not happy with their four goal advantage and they went in search of more. Great Yarmouth Town Academy enjoyed some good possession but were limited to shots from distance by a resolute back-line of Sam Ellis, Andrew Hemp, Luke Burchett and Callum McColgan, whilst Gardiner and Stinton controlled the midfield. Hemp tipped an effort from Silva onto the crossbar before AC had a goal disallowed.

It was soon 5-0 though when Jake Currell’s ball found Alex Shreeve who fired home from close range. Great Yarmouth Town Academy’s Turner had a shot hit the post, before a scrappy goal made it 5-1 but AC were comfortable from start to finish to lift the trophy in their debut season of Saturday football.

Starting XI: Steve Hemp, Sam Ellis, Andrew Hemp, Luke Burchett, Callum McColgan, Mark Stinton, Tom Gardiner, Jordan Stanton, Alex Shreeve, Jake Currell, Matty Banyard

Subs: Jason Long, Brandon Tennant

Man-of-the-match: Matty Banyard