Stowmarket kicked off this Green’s Meadow evening fixture and were soon causing the Debenham defence a few anxious moments from both open play and set pieces. Debenham however held strong and began to mount their own attacks. Seccombes free-kick was beat away and N Smith narrowly failed to connect with L Smith’s almost perfect cross.
The men in blue continued to apply pressure and on 22mins Hamblings rasping shot was blocked on the line and N Smith came as close when his dipping shot from the edge of the area struck the bar.
With confidence growing and the midfield winning the battle for possession, Debenham were enjoying the better of exchanges.
However,  it was surprisingly Stowmarket who broke the deadlock when on 35mins debenham failed to deal with an opportunistic ball across the box that was shinned in at the far post. 1-0.
Debenham’s reply was instant, the ball breaking to Nathan Smith in the box. The striker neatly turned inside his marker before calmly placing the ball low to the keepers left. 1-1.
Within seconds of the restart Stowmarket were almost caught napping when debenham stole the ball releasing L Smith into the area, but his shot was blocked on the line. From the resultant corner the ball broke to Hambling  whose fierce shot found the back of the net via defender and post. 1-2.
Incredulously, it was Debenham who were now caught cold. Almoat from the kick-off the ball was played long into the box and a brave head from a Stow forward under pressure put just enough on it to clear the on-rushing Chilvers and evade the despairing effort of Hambling to cross the line. 2-2. Four goals in as many minutes!
On the stroke of half-time Stowmarket were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area, but Debenham cleared well and normality was resumed.

Half Time Stowmarket Town FC Reserves   2         Debenham LC FC Reserves  2    

Stowmarket began the second half the more energetic. On 49mins Gedny was replaced by Beaton with  the outstanding Johnson dropping back into his more accustomed role in the back four.
On 55mins a determined run by Seccombe deserved more than the free-kick that failed to trouble the keeper.
As in the first half Debenham began to assert themselves taking the game to Stow with both Smiths, Seccombe and Beaton all having good chances. Always first to the ball the Blues were dictating the tempo of the game and only the outstretched fingertips of the Stow keeper denied L Smith’s looping effort.
Bowler, on for Plummer, was soon in action thwarting a promising break by Stow, who were by now being reduced to the occasional foray into the Debenham area. Even when the no.14 squandered two golden chances Debenham immediately countered, N Smith’s headed effort drifting wide.
On 80mins Johnson, taking the return from his own through ball to N Smith, unleashed a powerful shot that the Stow keeper did extremely well to turn over.
On 85mins N Smith, having failed to shake off an earlier knock was replaced by Conway. Stowmarket rallied well in the last five but, with only minutes remaining Debenham were awarded a free-kick almost on halfway. Barker swung the ball in and French powered in a header that the keeper could only parry to Conway who gratefully poked home what proved to be the well deserved winner. 2-3.

Full Time Stowmarket Town FC Reserves   2         Debenham LC FC Reserves  3   

Report from Club Member Dave Smith