West Bowling 3 Stockton Rosegale N&SA 4

I must admit that whilst driving to Horsfall Stadium, my hopes of this game taking place were not that high, as the whole area was covered in a thick blanket of fog.

I was therefore relieved to find the Stockton Rosegale team minibus parked outside the ground and that the game was on, when I arrived at the ground half an hour before kick off.

This game was an absolute cracker and was a great advert for the competition. Bradford Sunday Alliance champions, West Bowling, opened the scoring after 5 minutes, when Curtis McMahon forced a cross home from close range. The visitors equalised 8 minutes later, when Jamie Dawson scored from a corner.

West Bowling regained the lead just three minutes later, when McMahon's superb shot gave the Rosegale keeper no chance.

It would appear that the Rosegale management gave their troops an earbashing at half time, as they jogged back on to the pitch, nearly 10 minutes before the hosts did. However, it was Bowling who nearly opened the scoring, when Jack Murphy skipped past a few players, only to see his shot hit the post.

Rosegale did restore parity on the 49th minute, when their herculean forward, Dale Bell, burst through and his shot was poked home from Danny Earl, who is Billingham Synthonia's top scorer this season, with 14 goals to his name.

There was some real end-to-end football on display now and Bowling nearly took the lead for the third time, when they had a goalbound shot headed of the line, with the keeper beaten.

Rosegale took the lead for the first time, when Bowling failed to clear a corner and the ball fell to Jamie Dawson, whose great strike easily beat the keeper. It was 3-3 just two minutes later, when Bowling's Joe Jagger got the ball around 15 feet in to the Rosegale half, looked up and fired home an amazing goal, which just dipped under the bar!

I think the winning goal was scored by Rosegale's Earl, although with the fog, it wasn't easy to tell. The last 20 or so minutes was goal less, although both sides still had plenty of chances. Rosegale's Dawson fluffed his hat-trick opportunity in the dying moments, when he lobbed the keeper but only just missed the target.

3rd Round Draw

Ties to be played on 11th December - 13:00 ko

Canada v Queens Park

Lobster v Whitwick Compass 2008

Kelloe WMC v JOB

Hetton Lyons Cricket Club v Britannia VNC

Salisbury Athletic v Oyster Martyrs

Dawdon Colliery Welfare v Stockton Rosegale N&SA

New Salamis v Lea Hall Sports & Social

FC Tripimeni v Falcons

Club Lewsey v Magnet Tavern

Loughborough Saints v Comets Sports Club

Sungate v Northampton Duke Of York

Travellers v Birstall Stamford

Barnes Albion v Wrightchoice CSA

Hazelhurst v Dee Road Rangers

Lakeside Athletic v Lebeqs Tavern Courage

Elm Farm v Branksome Con

2nd Round Results

West Bowling 3 Stockton Rosegale N&SA 4
Hetton Lyons 2 v Chapeltown Fforde Grene 1
Britannia 1 v Hartlepool Lion Hillcarter 0
Salisbury Athletic 4 v BRNESC 0
Eden Vale 2 v Kelloe WMC 4
Paddock 0 v Lobster 1
Home & Bargain 0 v JOB 4
Allerton 0 v Dawdon Colliery Welfare 3
Barnes Albion 6 v Nyetimber Pirates 1
Lea Hall Sports & Social 5 v St Margarets 0
Advance Couriers 1 v Birstall Stamford 2
Comets Sports Club 4 v Britannia United 0
Sungate 4 v Torrun United 3
Greengate 1 v Elm Farm 2

More results to follow...plus a match report of West Bowling v Stockton Rosegale.

If you would like to see your team's result up with the rest, please email them to fasundaycupblog@hotmail.co.uk

2nd Round Preview

Eden Vale v Kelloe WMC
Kelloe will be hoping to build on their superb 2010/11 season, when they ended Hetton Lyon’s 5 year unbeaten run in the Durham County FA Sunday Cup (Kelloe went on to beat Brandon Bay Horse 4-1 in the final). They also beat Hetton in the Alan Smith Memorial Cup and League Cup semi final (on penalties). And it was none other than eventual Champions, Oyster Martyrs, who ended Kelloe’s Sunday Cup aspirations, when the Liverpudlians narrowly triumphed by 3 goals to 2 when they met in the 2nd round.

Eden Vale have twice reached the semi finals of the Sunday Cup, however, this was in the late 90’s and they only re-entered the competition last year after a lengthy absence. Like Kelloe, they started last season’s campaign in the preliminary round and after successfully negotiating their way through two penalty shoot-outs, they lost in the 3rd round to Queens Park.

On paper, this looks a tough tie to call, as, surprisingly, both sides are struggling in their respective leagues – Kelloe are second bottom of the Durham & District league, with only two wins from six games, whilst Eden Vale currently occupy mid-table in the Ormskirk league, with just one win from five league matches.

Travellers v Seven Allstars
Seven Allstars, the sole entrant from Herefordshire, face a tricky away tie to experienced Sunday Cup campaigners Travellers of the Birmingham Festival league.

The Allstars only joined the Herefordshire league in 2009, as the Malvern league in which they were in, disbanded. The Allstars at least had the honour of being crowned champions in the league’s final season.

They have adapted to life in the new league well, as they secured the Premier division league and cup title last season.

Travellers reached the semi finals of the Sunday Cup back in 2003, where they pushed eventual winners, Duke of York, all the way, only losing in extra time. The same two teams met in last season’s 4th round, where Duke of York came through another close encounter, winning 2-1.

Travellers finished runners up in the Birmingham Festival league last season and I expect them to be too strong for the Allstars.

Advance Couriers v Birstall Stamford
I must admit, I didn’t pay much notice to this tie when the draw came out, as Advance Couriers have a modest Sunday Cup record, whilst Birstall Stamford are three time semi-finalists and also lifted the Midland Sunday Challenge Cup three times in five seasons, so in my eyes, it appeared to be a fairly straight forward game for Birstall Stamford.

However, whilst Advance Couriers may not have a reputation to rival Birstall Stamford on the national stage, they have a very impressive ‘domestic’ record, as they have won the Leicester Sunday Alliance league on seven occasions and have appeared in the final of the Leicestershire & Rutland County FA Sunday Premier Cup in each of the last three seasons (winning it twice).

This game pits arguably the best sides in rival leagues and has generated a lot of interest in Leicester and should be a well-attended game.

Comets Sports Club v Britannia United
Comets were the surprise package last season, reaching the semi finals. Like Eden Vale, they proved adept at taking penalties, as two of their victories were settled during penalty shoot-outs.

Berkhamsted league champions for the last three seasons, Comets also reached the final of last season’s Hertfordshire County FA Sunday Senior Cup, where they lost to an extra time winning goal from Belstone, the team they beat 3-1 in the 4th round of the Sunday Cup, two months earlier.

Britannia United also had a good run last season, when they reached the last 16, which is the furthest that any Aylesbury side has ever progressed to.

They are members of the Aylesbury Combination league and are one of only five teams in the Premier Division!

I think this could well be another close game but if I had to stick my neck out, I’d pick Comets to win this, with home advantage tipping the balance in their favour.

Sungate v Torrun United
Two seasons ago, debutants Sungate from the Essex Corinthian league reached the quarter-finals, where they lost 4-1 to another impressive newcomer, Hazelhurst of the Morden & District league.

Despite this memorable achievement, neither side entered the competition last season but both are back in this time.

Sungate recorded a straight forward 3-0 win over Hammer OGB of the South West Herts league and have been rewarded with another home tie against fellow Essex boys, Torrun United, who recorded the biggest first round away win since Winlaton West End’s infamous 14-0 hammering of Kendal Bowman (which is still the record winning margin in the competition) way back in 1980, when they thrashed 2005 champions, Gossoms End, 10-0.

I’m sure Sungate will prove to be stiffer opposition than Gossoms End and I expect them to progress to round 3.

Eagle Cons removed from Sunday Cup

After beating Queens Park in the first round, Eagle Cons were due to play Derby Lane Gym in round two. However, their tie against Queens Park was suspended following an FA investigation. Eagle Cons were subsequently removed from the competition.

The above has been on the FA website for several weeks. I haven't mentioned this earlier, as I was hoping to find out a bit more about what had happened.

Although this has not been officially announced, Eagle Cons were removed because they fielded a player who plays in the Welsh football league and did not have international clearance to play in the Sunday Cup.

This, of course, brings back memories of the 2005 semi final, when Canada Edinburgh Park beat Gossoms End 4-0, only to be thrown out, due to Bangor City's Tony Grey not having international clearance either!

I've nearly finished a preview of some 2nd round games and hope to have the blog updated by Friday evening.