It was a weekend of cup success for Hethersett Athletic Football Club.The men's Saturday team and the women's team both reached cup finals, with the former also winning Division Four of the Crown Fire South and Central Norfolk League.

It was a weekend of cup

success for Hethersett Athletic Football Club, writes Peter Steward.

The men's Saturday team and the women's team both reached cup finals, with the former also winning Division Four of the South and Central Norfolk League.

The Saturday team beat Gressenhall Reserves 4-1 to reach the final of the Fen Regis Invitation Shield and will play Gressenhall's first team on April 29 at Dereham FC. Leading scorer Danny Gray hit a hat-trick and Paul Norman added another in a match spoiled by heavy rain.

It will be a second final for the side, which has already reached the final of the Ben Smith Memorial Trophy, where they will play Saham Toney on May 4 at Dereham FC.

The team also won the Division Four title, as the only side that could pip them to the post - Northwold Sports and Social Club - went down.

Hethersett Athletic Sunday men's first team had a fine rehearsal for their own cup

semi-final when they beat AFC Wanderers 5-0 in a must-win game.

Their goals came from Lee Barrett (2), Danny Gray, Matt Steward and Lewis Allen.

This Sunday they take on Norwich Busmen in the semi-finals of the Norwich Sunday League Cup. They stay third from bottom of the Norwich Sunday League Premier Division and will need at least six points from their remaining three games if they are not to face relegation.

The weekend was also a personal triumph for Danny Gray, who scored four times (three for the Saturday side and one for the Sunday) to beat the club's personal scoring record for a season. He has hit the back of the net 71 times and has plenty of opportunities left to add to this tally.

Hethersett Ladies reached the Eastern Region League Cup final for the second successive season following a close encounter with Woodbridge.

Their reward is a final against Cambridge University at Soham FC on May 10.

It was far from a classic cup tie, with both teams finding it

difficult to stamp their authority on the game.

Hethersett opened strongly and looked to be well in control as they built up a 2-0 lead, with Emily Coates bursting through to open the scoring after 15 minutes.

Lisa Ferdani doubled the lead when she scored direct from a corner after 25 minutes. Woodbridge fought back to pull a goal back on the half-hour.

The second half was an

anti-climax and a dull affair,

with Woodbridge on top for

long spells and Hethersett desperately holding on, but finding it difficult to work their way out of their own half.

The home side managed to hold out and will be looking to retain the trophy they won last season.

Final score: Hethersett 2, Woodbridge 1.

Hethersett Girls U13 played very well, but conceded three late goals to go down 3-0 to Norwich.