AFC Sudbury 2, Lowestoft 1: Supersub Sam Banya struck two second-half goals to dash Lowestoft's bid for a trophy treble at Diss last night - and secure Sudbury's first-ever Ridgeons League Cup last night.

AFC Sudbury 2, Lowestoft 1

Supersub Sam Banya struck two second-half goals to dash Lowestoft's bid for a trophy treble at Diss last night - and secure Sudbury's first-ever Ridgeons League Cup last night.

Banya scored in the 46th and 70th minutes to put Sudbury in the driving seat, and although champions Lowestoft pulled a goal back when former Linnets man Gary Setchell put through his own goal with 11 minutes remaining, they could not force an equaliser.

It was a fitting end to boss Gary Harvey and first team coach Michael Cheetham's managerial reign and gained Sudbury some consolation for missing out a sixth successive Ridgeons League title.

All the action in the final came in the second half after an instantly forgettable first period punctuated by too many miss-placed passes and niggly fouls.

The only real incident of note came as early as the second minute when Sudbury defender Brett Girling was forced to retire with an eye injury which saw him later taken to hospital, although it was not thought to be too serious.

His replacement, former Diss striker Banya, turned out to be Sudbury's match winner as the game came to life after the interval.

Sudbury took the lead when Banya played in Andrew Claydon who squared the ball instead of shooting and although Andy Reynolds did well to block his goalbound shot, Banya reacted quickest to force home the rebound.

No sooner had Sudbury sent on another substitute in Paul Abrahams in the 69th minute than they doubled their advantage. Adie Hayes swept a crossfield ball out to the right and Abrahams' low cross was turned home by the unmarked Banya from close range.

Lowestoft, for whom Jamie Godbold was becoming a growing influence on the left wing with his pace and trickery, were handed a lifeline in the 79th minute.

Godbold played a defence-splitting pass out to Ally McKenna out on the right and his low cross was turned into his own net by Setchell, who was voted man of the match, as he slid in in an attempt to clear.

The high tempo of the second half, which saw seven bookings to add to one in the opening period, was maintained throughout the 45 minutes as Sudbury held on to claim the silverware.