Acle United 0 King's Lynn 3
26th November 2011
MIDFIELDER Jamie Thurlbourne was at his best as the Linnets took their first steps towards a Carrow Road final in May.
Thurlbourne was the creator of Lynn's first two goals inside the space of six minutes to kill off any hopes of Acle recording a cup scalp.
Linnets boss Gary Setchell, whose side were runners-up in the competition last season, said: "Jamie (Thurlbourne) has a great left foot, which is hard for any team to defend against, and there are not too many players with a better left foot than his outside the Football League.
"We adapted well to the windy conditions and put in a solid performance, but Jamie has got us out of jail again.
"I knew Acle would give us a tough game and that's exactly what happened.
"They had a couple of good chances with the wind behind them when the score was 2-0 and had they taken one of them it would have given us an anxious last few minutes.
"They worked hard and never gave up on the day.
"I'd like to thank them for their hospitality and the way they treated us. They were a credit to their league."
Although winning the United Counties League remains Lynn's number one priority this season, Setchell said: "We will show the Norfolk Senior Cup the respect it deserves by playing our strongest side available,"
First team regulars Alex Street, Pat Bexfield, Dan Buhlemann, Spriggs, Harris, Danny Beaumont and Jamie Thurlbourne all returned to the Lynn line-up after being rested for the midweek UCL Cup match against Raunds Town.
Anglian Combination Premier Division outfit Acle United gave a good account of themselves and were far from outclassed.
First Adam Hipperson curled a fine effort over the crossbar and then A's front man Harry Maddison tested the hands of Street within the opening ten minutes.
Setchell said: "I expected Acle to start well and as underdogs you have nothing to lose - similar to when we went to Tamworth in the FA Cup and ran them close."
However, the Linnets soon found their stride with playmaker Thurlbourne the architect behind Acle's demise.
Thurlbourne's first corner was met by the head of Spriggs, lurking at the back-post, before Harris connected with a neat back-flick shortly after as Acle, once again, failed to deal with a Thurlbourne dellivery.
Linnets striker Danny Beaumont, a Norfolk Senior Cup winner with Dereham last season, struck a post eight minutes into the second period after being played through by Rob Hughes.
Acle held firm to keep further Lynn attacks at bay, but at the same time hardly threatened Street in the visitors goal.
Six minutes from time, in a rare Acle attack, the hosts nearly made it interesting as Simeon Randall forced a good save from Street, and Nathan Thompson was unlucky not to follow-up on the rebound with an acrobatic effort.
But a minute from time substitute Nelson Moreira, fresh from his midweek double in the League Cup, sealed Lynn's passage in the last eight with a delightful lob over Scott Foreman.
Acle United's joint first-team boss Martyn Sinclair said: "I'm very proud of my lads, they worked tirelessly throughout the match and we created some good chances against a very sharp King's Lynn side."
Acle United: Scott Foreman, Colk (Nobbs, 81), Daniel Foreman, Oldham, Hodds, Palmer, Randall, Goreham, Maddison (Harman, 81), Thompson (Faulkes, 88), Hipperson.
Subs not used: Goodwin, Short.
King's Lynn Town: Street, Fryatt, Bexfield (Yong, 61), Wall, Buhlemann, Hughes, Spriggs, White, Harris (Moreira, 69), Beaumont, Jamie Thurlbourne (Coe, 69). Sub not used: Luke Thurlbourne.
Goals: Spriggs (22), Harris (28), Moreira (89)
Referee: Nathan Kennedy. Attendance: 324. MoM: Jamie Thurlbourne.