Ransomes Sports beat struggling Whitton Utd of the Premiership courtesy of a Gavin VanOene hat-trick that put Championship leaders into Round Three with a deserved 3-1 victory whilst also securing the local bragging rights.
Icy conditions had gripped Suffolk prior to the game and the pitch at King George V Playing Fields was deemed to be unsafe and frozen by the match official. Ransomes Sports quickly offered up Sidegate Avenue as an alternative to get the game played. The pitch was given the go ahead for the match to start and playing for the first time in three weeks, Ransomes took the lead inside four minutes. It was the guile and craft of Gav VanOene that opened the scoring for the home side, but that early breakthrough failed to inspire a below par performance from Ransomes during that first 45 minutes.
That somewhat subdued performance and the fact that there was only goal in this cup tie garnered Whitton's resolve and ambition. This led to a Whitton equaliser scored by Hameed Alabi on 52 minutes.
Ransomes response was immediate as they moved up through the gears and it coincided with Gav VanOene flexing his muscles. He seemed determined in driving his team forward and he re-established the home lead direct from a free kick on 55 minutes.
It felt that Ransomes were no longer in the mood to tolerate Whitton's resistance, but at 2-1, Whitton were never out of the game and the longer the game went without the home side adding a third, there remained an element of jeopardy.
Ransomes did not have to extend themselves to eventually see off Whitton but they did leave it late when Gav VanOene completed his hat trick on 88 minutes with yet another trade mark free kick.
It was not a pretty performance from Ransomes and not particularly memorable but they will be pleased to send supporters away with the win and a place in the next ro