1st round review

Here is a review of some of the 1st round games.

Burradon & New Fordley 0 v Hetton Lyons Cricket Club 1
A 30 yard screamer from Marc Ellison secured three time winners Hetton Lyons passage in to the second round, as they came through a very tight game against Burradon & New Fordley of the Blyth & Wansbeck league.

Burradon, back in the Sunday Cup after a nine season absence, came close to opening the scoring on the 30 minute mark, when a spectacular overhead kick hit the cross bar.

Hetton should have taken the lead on 51 minutes, when a cross from the right from Joe Walton saw the unmarked Ian Watson put his header wide of the target. Other than these few highlights, neither side created many chances and with the game seemingly destined for extra time, substitute Marc Ellison picked the ball up in the midfield in the 86th minute and his long range strike gave the Burradon keeper no chance.

Falcons 12 v London Maccabi Lions 1
With joint managers Josh and Malcolm Newman unavailable and a number of regular players missing, the Maccabi Lions decided to forfeit the tie and withdrew from the competition.

However, when a replacement management duo were found, the club had a change of heart and decided to honour their commitment to the Sunday Cup and the game went ahead.

With only four first teamers at their disposal, the Lions drafted in four 17 year olds and four veterans (who had a combined age of 201) so, perhaps the result did not come as a surprise!

There were hat-tricks for Clift, Hefferon and Whitehead, whilst Lambert bagged a brace and Dalby had to be content with just the one goal, as Falcons went to town on their makeshift opponents.

South Bank (2006) 3 v Hartlepool Lion Hillcarter 5
It was a case of deja vu for South Bank in their game against Hartlepool Lion Hillcarter, as like last season (in their preliminary round tie against Kelloe) they held a 2-0 lead but were unable to go on and win the game, as five second half goals from Lion, completely turned the game on its head.

However, South Bank’s Stockton league rivals, Stockton Rosegale N&SA, had a memorable debut, beating sole Cumbrian entrants St Bees 6-0. They face another away tie in round two, to face double Bradford Sunday Alliance and West Riding County Sunday Cup winners, West Bowling, who recorded an impressive 4-0 away win against Obiter of the Liverpool Business Houses league, despite having a player sent off after only 20 minutes.

Nicosia 1 v Derby Lane Gym 4
2010/11 was a season to forget for former champions Nicosia, as they withdrew from the Sunday Cup without playing a game and were relegated from the Premier Division of the Liverpool Business Houses league.

Their return to the competition did not go as planned, as they were well beaten by Derby Lane Gym, for whom Smith, Lally, Kinny and Stanton were on the score-sheet.

Derby Lane Gym’s 2nd round tie against Eagle Cons has been suspended, pending an FA investigation.

A popular album from my youth in the 1980’s was London 0 Hull 4 by The Housemartins. However, it was more of a case of Hull 0 Liverpool 3, as all three sides from the Hull Sunday league were beaten at home by Scouse sides!

Hessle Rangers were beaten 2-1 by Canada, whose goals were scored by Tames and O’Brien, whilst Swanfield did at least manage a 3-3 draw with Allerton, only to lose 5-3 on penalties. AFC Blackburn Leisure were the third Hull side to exit, as BRNESC beat them 2-0.

It’s the second successive season that all of the East Riding’s sides have lost (or have withdrawn) in the first round and is a complete contrast to the league’s heyday in the mid to late 1990’s, when they had three finalists in six seasons.

A.C. Sportsman & Ravensborough 4 v Stanbridge & Tilsworth 1
Adey Bascombe (2), Matt Baldry and Neil Pugh were all on the score sheet for A.C. Sportsman in their routine win over Bedfordshire rivals Stanbridge, a quarter finalist back in 2008/09 but who have now exited at the first hurdle in the last two seasons.

Bari 1 v New Salamis 3
Debutants New Salamis have enjoyed success in the Kopa league and the London FA Sunday Challenge Cup and are fancied to do well in the FA Sunday Cup. They got their campaign underway with comfortable 3-1 win against Bari of the Essex Corinthian league, courtesy of goals from Richard Georgiou, George Gregoriou and David Hicks.

Tripimeni 4 Upshire 1
The Kopa league’s other Sunday Cup representatives are Tripimeni and like New Salamis, they are also expected to do well this season.

They suffered a setback when Waltham Sunday league champions, Upshire, took the lead in the 20th minute. However, Tripimeni recovered and scored 4 times through Ahmet Rifat, Darren Gray and a double from Nico.

Lobster 6 v Alder 4
There were goals galore in this all Liverpool clash, with the District league coming out on top, as Lobster beat Alder from the Business Houses league. Extra time was required to separate the sides and goals from Oliver (2), Flett, Andrews, Christian and Forshaw, saw the 1979 champions to through to the 2nd round, where they will face last season’s runners up, Paddock.

Gadeside Rangers 2 v FC Nirankari 5
The Watford Sunday league’s sole entry, debutants Gadeside Rangers, got off to a nightmare start, when they found themselves two goals down after just 15 minutes, against FC Nirankari from Stevenage.

The first goal came in the ninth minute, when the lively Theo Swaine made progress down the right hand side and his low cross was turned home by David Iwediuno at the far post. Gadeside looked shell shocked and worse was to follow six minutes later, when the home side were unable to clear another Swaine cross and Tegana James tame effort trickled into the far corner.

Gadeside were given a lifeline just before the half hour mark when Dave Nelmes was tripped in the area and Russ Popplewell stepped up and his confident spot kick reduced the deficit to one goal.

With half-time approaching, a Nirankari counter attack inside their own half, released Iwediuno and after his run was halted just outside the penalty area, Lee Wilson scored from the resultant free-kick, to restore Nirankari’s two goal advantage.

A superbly struck volley from sub Joe Pizans gave Gadeside renewed hope with 15 minutes to go. However, another penalty, this time awarded to Nirankari, was successfully converted on 83 minutes, by Lee Wilson.

Nirankari’s 5th was scored deep in to stoppage time, by Peter Duffy.

Chapeltown Fforde Grene 3 v Dengo United 1

After a family sickness bug put pay to my original plan of a North East Sunday Cup double – Sunderland RCA Barnes v Dawdon at 11:00am, followed by South Bank (2006) v Hartlepool Lion Hillcarter at 2:00pm – I made my way to Garforth Town, to watch this Yorkshire v Liverpool clash.

This was the first Sunday Cup appearance of Chapeltown Fforde Grene, a merger of former entrants Chapeltown Brazil and Fforde Grene. And it was the new look Leeds side who opened the scoring on 17 minutes, when Dempsey Smith controlled the ball well inside the penalty area and rifled home.

It could have been 2-0 five minutes later, when a superb cross field run set up Dominic Blair, whose fierce strike only just flew over the cross bar. Fforde's did have the ball in the net four minutes later but the goal was quickly ruled out for a push in the build up. HT 1-0.

Dengo (whose name is taken from an engineering firm - Drawing Office and Engineering Office) hadn't shown much in the first half but started the second period better and levelled the score on the hour mark, when Paul Jones applied the finishing touch to cross-cum-shot from out of the area.

A through ball from Fernando Moke released his Garforth Town colleague, Dempsey Smith, whose low shot beat the keeper to his right, restoring Fforde’s lead with just 7 minutes remaining.

The same due combined well for the third goal in stoppage time, when some neat interplay down the left, set up Smith for his hat-trick chance and he duly obliged, with a stunning strike so seal a 3-1 victory.

2nd Round Draw

Ties to be played on 20th November at 2.00pm:
Home & Bargain v JOB
Allerton v Dawdon Colliery Welfare
Eagle Cons v Derby Lane Gym
West Bowling v Stockton Rosegale N&SA
Eden Vale v Kelloe WMC
Hetton Lyons Cricket Club v Chapeltown Fforde Grene
Oyster Martyrs v Belt Road
Paddock v Lobster
Britannia VNC v Hartlepool Lion Hillcarter
Salisbury Athletic v BRNESC
Canada v Mariners
Loughborough Saints v St Josephs (Luton)
AC Sportsman & Ravensborough v Northampton Duke Of York
Magnet Tavern v Wymeswold
FC Houghton Centre v Club Lewsey
The Dog v Whitwick Compass 2008
Travellers v Seven Allstars
Lea Hall Sports & Social v St Margarets
Advance Couriers v Birstall Stamford
Highfield Social Club v Falcons
Greengate v Elm Farm
Gym United v FC Tripimeni
Comets Sports Club v Britannia United
Sungate v Torrun United
FC Nirankari v New Salamis
AFC Donsville v Hazelhurst
Barnes Albion v Nyetimber Pirates
C.K. v Dee Road Rangers
Wonford United v Lebeqs Tavern Courage
Bedfont Sunday v Branksome Con
All Saints v Lakeside Athletic
Wrightchoice CSA v The Lounge

First Round Results

Chapeltown Fforde Grene 3 v Dengo United 1 - match report to follow later
The Dog 4 v Hole in the Wall 0
Salisbury Athletic 4 Thirly 1
Kelloe WMC 1 v Hartlepool Rovers Quoit 0
Burradon & New Fordley 0 v Hetton Lyons 1
Belt Road 3 v Bolton Woods 0
Obiter 0 v West Bowling 4
Northampton St Margarets 2 v Luton Celtic SC 0
Sungate 3 Hammer OGB 0
St Josephs (Luton) 3 v Crawley Green Sunday 2
Hundred Acre 3 Advance Couriers 4
St Bees 0 v Stockton Rosegale N&SA 6
South Bank (2006) 3 v Hartlepool Lion Hillcarter 5
Sunderland RCA Barnes 2 v Dawdon Colliery Welfare 5
JOB 3 v Seymour 0
Lobster 6 v Alder 4
Mariners 4 v St Sebastians 3
Poulton Royal 1 v Home & Bargain 3
Loughborough Saints 2 v Clumber 1
Wymeswold 2 v Loughborough Falcons 1
Whitwick Compass 4 v Bartley Green Sunday 2
Kingshurst Punchbowl 1 Birstall Stamford 4
Belstone 0 v Grengate 3
Dee Road Rangers 5 v Broadfields United 3
C K 5 v Kings Tamerton CA 2
Efford United Bluebird 1 v All Saints
Lebeq Tavern Courage 3 v The Windmill 2
Railway Inn 0 v Wonford United 2
Sporting Bristol 1 v Lakeside Athletic 2
AFC Blackburn Leisure 0 v BRNESC 2
Hessle Rangers 1 v Canada 2
Swanfield 3 v Allerton 3 - Allerton won on penalties
Bedfont 5 v AFC Rayners Lane 2
Elm Farm 7 v North London Olympians 4
CB Hounslow United 0 v Wrightchoice CSA 2
The Lounge 2 v Knighton Arms 1
Hazelhurst 8 v Ajax LA 0
Nyetimber Pirates 4 v Fountain Court 2
Barnes Albion 2 AFC Kumazi Strikers 1

A big thanks to those who have supplied results

Entrant Review

Merseyside once again leads the way in the number of Sunday Cup entrants, with 25 sides accepted (22 are affiliated to the Liverpool FA, whilst the 3 Cheshire FA sides are all based on The Wirral).

Bedfordshire is the next best represented County, with 11 teams, of which 9 play in the North Home Counties league, including Sunday Cup stalwarts St Joseph’s, Celtic SC and FC Houghton Centre (who now operate in Division 2, which is the league’s 3rd tier of football).

Offley Moat are another side from the NHC league in the Sunday Cup but they are affiliated to the Hertfordshire FA, who have 7 entrants, including Berkhamsted league duo Gossoms End (2005 champions) and Comets Sports Club, who reached last season’s semi final.

Leicester and Rutland FA have 8 teams in from 3 different leagues. Their best chance of success will probably lay with 3 time semi finalists, Birstall Stamford of the Charnwood league.

Highfield Social Club of the Banbury & District league are Oxfordshire FA’s first representatives in the Sunday Cup for over 10 years! They reached the final of last seasons Oxfordshire County Sunday Cup, scoring 29 goals in just 4 games. However, they have a tough ask on Sunday, when they entertain Houghton Town from the North Home Counties league.

After years of under achievement, there is a genuine buzz of excitement about the quality of teams in from London. Hazelhurst from the Morden & District league have re-entered, after a season out. They reached the semi finals two seasons back, losing 2-1 to Hetton Lyons.

Kopa league duo New Salamis and FC Tripimeni (under their former name of Aris) are both former winners of the London FA Sunday Challenge Cup and both sides are tipped to do well. Tripimeni pushed last season’s semi finalists, Duke of York, all the way in their 3rd round game, losing by a goal to nil.

Debutants Barnes Albion have enjoyed success in both the Surrey and Middlesex County FA's Sunday cup competitions in recent seasons and carry a strong reputation. They are one of 7 Middlesex based sides in this season and will no doubt draw inspiration from their West Middlesex league rivals and former runners up Bedfont Sunday, who reached last seasons quarter finals.

I’m disappointed that Huddersfield Irish Centre will not be taking part this season. This could well be due to the fact that the Huddersfield Sunday league folded in the summer, after 43 years. Irish, who enjoyed some great battles with Oyster Martyrs, Scots Grey and Hetton Lyons, to name but a few, have joined the Kirklees Sunday league, so we may see them return to Sunday Cup action next season..

I'm glad to see that the number of withdrawals is significantly lower than last season (so far!). However, it's sad to learn that London Maccabi Lions are the second team to withdraw this season, so debutants Falcons of the Cambridge and District league receive a walkover in to round 2.