3rd Round Review

Firstly, I'd like to wish everyone a belated Merry Christmas and all the best for 2012! Secondly, I'd like to apologise for the delay in updating the blog. I'll put this down to being a Dad to 3 young kids and we are still opening Christmas presents as I type this latest update!

Barnes Albion 1 Wrightchoice CSA 1 – Barnes won 5-4 on penalties
On an extremely bitter afternoon at Rectory Meadow (the home of Hanworth Villa) debutants Barnes Albion from the West Middlesex league, required a penalty shoot-out to overcome a spirited Wrightchoice side from the Reading Sunday League.

Barnes are the current holders of the Surrey County FA Senior cup, are also affiliated to the Middlesex County FA (they reached last season’s semi-final of the Middlesex County FA Premier cup) and are well fancied to go far in the Sunday Cup. However, their youthful opponents were not daunted by their host’s pedigree and took the lead after 10 minutes, courtesy of a fantastic strike from Adam Kingsbeer, which gave keeper Richard Priest no chance.

Barnes laid siege to the Wrightchoice goal in the second half but could not fashion the equaliser their play deserved. Sub Danny Buckle was introduced with 15 minutes remaining and his neat hold-up play and passing made a huge difference for Barnes, although the momentum gained by this positive change, was short lived, as centre forward Mark Gallagher saw red for two bookable offences and things went from bad to worse, when Joe Willis was also sent off!

With just two minutes remaining, the nine men pushed forward and were awarded a penalty, which Adam Willis converted, to send the game in to extra time. Unbelievably, Barnes had a third player sent off in extra time, when the impressive Angus Martin was dismissed, when he received his second yellow card! Barnes nearly snatched victory with their final attack, when a low cross was met by Luke Driscoll, who hit the post.

Barnes went first in the penalty shoot-out and both sides successfully converted 11 penalties. With sudden death looming, Wrightchoice, failed to hit the target with their fifth spot kick and an ecstatic Barnes Albion were through to the last 16. The match was a credit to both sides and not the dirty game that 6 bookings and 3 sending offs would suggest.

Many thanks to Spencer Cox for this report

Loughborough Saints 1 v Comets Sports Club 3
There wasn’t much to choose between these two sides for the first ten minutes, but Comets then began to settle and started to dominate possession. The Saints goalkeeper made a couple of saves but when a free kick was awarded to Comets outside Loughborough’s penalty box, Chris Marsh expertly bent it around the wall, low into the far corner to give Comets the lead.

Ten minutes before the interval, Comets’ left back Dan Hartley brought down the Saints striker as he was bearing down on goal. After a lengthy consultation with his assistant, the referee deemed that a yellow card and free-kick on the edge of the box was sufficient penalty for the misdemeanour, which the Saints player duly blasted through the Comets’ wall, deflecting past keeper Johnny Pearce to restore parity.

Loughborough had their tails up for the first period of the second-half but were unable to capitalise due to sound defending by the Comets back four, marshalled superbly by Joel Williams and Shane Wood.

With twenty minutes remaining, Comets’ right-back, Woods Mullan, played a long ball down the line for Chris Marsh to chase. Marsh, who had been running the opposition ragged all afternoon, then drifted past the left full-back and picked out Jack Wood on the penalty spot to deftly slot the ball inside the left-hand post to put Comets back in front.

Saints tried valiantly to conjure up an equaliser, forcing a good save from Pearce, but the Comets defence, and midfielders, Daniel Holliman, Alex McCarthy and Adam Martin, stood firm before Marsh once again broke clear and was subsequently brought down inside the box for a penalty. Comets’ skipper, Shane Wood, stepped up to convert the spot-kick and put the tie beyond the Leicestershire side.

Many thanks to Kev Mullan for this report.

Canada 4 Queens Park 1
This tie pitted together two serious contenders in this competition. Canada, so named because they were formed by a group of workers at Liverpool's Canada Dock, are four times semi finalists, and this season are very much at the heart of what looks like being a very tight title race in the Liverpool Sunday League. Queens Park have regularly featured in the latter stages of this cup in recent years, and the reigning Birkenhead Sunday League champions remain unbeaten in their league this season.

Although Queens Park have the better of the possession in the first half, they trail to a 13th minute goal as Carl Furlong hooks the ball home at the near post. They almost equalise from a Terry Cotgrave free-kick, the ball glancing off John Johnson's head, or possibly his defensive marker, and hitting the bar, but the visitors have keeper David Peace to thank for a fine save just before the interval to keep out Danny O'Brien's header.

As the second half gets underway this has the feel of a cup tie in which anything could happen, and the crucial moment arrives on 58 minutes as Danny O'Brien puts Stephen Tames away, and with Queens Park appeals for what must be a very tight offside call waved away by the linesman, Tames runs on to finish confidently. Tames goes on to complete an 11 minute hat-trick, the next two goals very similar, long balls catching the defensive line far to high, Tames finishing for his second goal with a tremendous drive into the top corner, and his third by rounding the keeper.

Queens Park do keep pushing forward to their credit, and David Bowe scores a consolation penalty on 80 minutes after player-manager Lee Gibson is brought down. There are a couple more chances at either end as the play becomes very stretched, but 4-1 is the final outcome, with the Queens Park supporters very sporting in their praise of their opponents at full time. As for Canada, they must be thinking this could be the year they at last reach the final.

Many thanks to Andy Gilman for this report.

Dawdon Colliery Welfare 3 v Stockton Rosegale N&SA 5
Stockton Rosegale kept up their impressive Sunday Cup campaign, by registering their third successive away win. They also maintained their five goals-a-game average and it was they who struck first in this game against their North East rivals from the Peterlee & District league, when Billy Gatenby headed home a Danny Rowbotham cross.

Danny Earl then added a second with a delicate chip over the keeper after a neat through ball by Dean Bell. Rosegale made it 3-0 in the second half, when Bell smashed home a loose ball after Earl was tripped in the box.

Dawdon were given a foothold in the game, with the award of a penalty, which they duly converted.

The ever dangerous Earl who continued to turn defenders inside out and caused the home side no end of problems, scored a fine goal, when he controlled a long clearance, before outpacing the Dawdon defence and curling his shot around the advancing keeper to restore Rosegale’s three goal advantage.

Dawdon rallied on the hour and the two goals they scored in a 15 minute ‘purple patch’ that followed, dramatically brought the home side back in to contention. In fact, it took a top class save by Stuart Newbold to prevent Dawdon from levelling the score at 4-4. .

Billy Gatenby put the game beyond Dawdon, when he fired home his second goal to earn Rosegale yet another away tie, this time on Merseyside, where they will play Canada.

FC Tripimeni 5 v Falcons 2
Free-scoring Falcons from the Cambridge & District league went in to this game full of confidence, after scoring 16 goals in their two previous Sunday Cup games.

However, in Tripimeni, they came up against one of London’s finest Sunday side’s and a team fancied to go far in the competition.

The Kopa league side went in to the interval with a 2-1 lead, courtesy of goals from Naim and Alfie Cox. Tripimeni had several chances to increase their lead but failed to do so and Falcons equalised, with the best goal of the game, when a shot from the edge of the penalty box flew straight into the corner of the net, giving the Tripimeni goal keeper no chance.

This set back spurred Tripimeni on and they scored a further three goals without reply. Alfie Cox completed his hat trick and Karim notched his second to earn Tripimeni a mouth-watering home clash against Dee Road Rangers, whose highly impressive 5-0 away win Hazelhurst was arguably the result of the round.

Postponement - 18/12

Salisbury Athletic v Oyster Martyrs has been postponed. Oyster will now have home advantage when the tie is played in the New Year. Thanks to Ian Porter for this information.

Elm Farm v Branksome Con and Lakeside Athletic v Lebeqs Tavern Courage were also postponed. No word on Lobster v Whitwick Compass.

4th Round Draw

Ties to be played on 22/1/12 - 13:00 ko

Canada v Stockton Rosegale N&SA
Lobster or Whitwick Compass 2008 v Lea Hall Sports & Social
Hetton Lyons Cricket Club v Kelloe WMC
Birstall Stamford v Salisbury Athletic or Oyster Martyrs
FC Tripimeni v Dee Road Rangers
Club Lewsey v Lakeside Athletic or Lebeqs Tavern Courage
Sungate v Comets Sports Club
Elm Farm or Branksome Con v Barnes Albion

3rd Round Results

Kelloe 5 Job 2
Hetton Lyons 4 Brittania 1
Canada 4 Queens Park 1
Salisbury Athletic v Oyster Martyrs - game postponed
Dawdon CW 3 v Stockton Rosegale N&SA 5
Travellers 1 v Birstall Stamford 1 - Birstall won 2-1 on penalties
FC Tripimeni 5 v Falcons 2
Barnes Albion 1 v Wrightchoice CSA 1 - Barnes won 5-4 on penalties
Hazelhurst 0 v Dee Road Rangers 5
Sungate 3 v Duke of York 0
Elm Farm v Branksome Con - match abandoned on 50 minutes, due to a serious injury
Loughborough Saints 1 v Comets Sports Club 3

I'll update the blog with more results later.

If you know any results/postponements, please email the details to me on fasundaycupblog@hotmail.co.uk.

3rd Round Preview

The Third round draw has produced some intriguing match ups and the following five fixtures feature some of the competitions best known and most successful teams.

Salisbury Athletic v Oyster Martyrs
One of the standout ties of the third round is an all Liverpudlian affair that pits Salisbury Athletic against Sunday Cup holders Oyster Martyrs.

Salisbury made their Sunday Cup debut back in 2002/03, when they were known as Dickie Lewis. A change of name to Seaburn in time for the 2004/05 season coincided with their best achievement to date, when they reached the semi final, narrowly losing to Albion Sports. A further name change to Salisbury Athletic came in 2009.

Oyster have appeared in two of the last three finals and along with Hetton Lyons, they are the team to beat, if you are going to win this competition.

After a successful treble winning 2010/11 season, management duo Richie Rooney and Tony Doyle decided to step down and Neil McNulty has taken up the challenge of retaining the Sunday Cup, in his capacity as player-manager.

McNulty’s first achievement in his brief managerial reign has been to retain the services of Oyster’s key personnel, none more so than prolific striker, Leighton McGivern, a goal-scorer in every round last season. He is also finding the net on a regular basis for Vauxhall Motors in the Football Conference North.

Having seen Oyster five times in the past three seasons, I think Salisbury’s biggest problem will be shackling McGivern and Thomas Rooney, a player whose goal scoring ability commands respect.

Club Lewsey v Magnet Tavern
Another highlight of the third round draw sees North Home Counties outfit Club Lewsey entertain 2010 runners up, Magnet Tavern.

Club Lewsey, who pushed Oyster Martyrs all the way in last season’s quarter final at Heswall, have scored nine goals in their two Sunday up games and with home advantage, will feel confident that they can progress, against a side who fell at the first attempt last season, losing 2-1 to Clumber in the second round (after being exempt from the first round).

Sungate v Duke of York
After successive away victories in Bedfordshire, 2003 champions Duke of York from Northampton are on the road again, as they have been drawn away to Sungate of the Essex Corinthian league.

These road trips are nothing new for Duke of York, however, as since their reintroduction to the Sunday Cup last season, they have only been drawn at home once in nine games! (this does not include last season’s semi final, which was played at Rushden & Diamonds).

By way of contrast, this will be Sungate’s third consecutive home draw and they will need to take advantage of this good fortune, if they are to beat a very good Duke of York side, who I saw beat Mariners in last season’s quarter final.

Travellers v Birstall Stamford
This West v East midlands clash is another eagerly awaited game and should provide some great entertainment. Both sides are experienced Sunday Cup campaigners, having reached the semi finals and it’s a shame that one of these teams will have to exit the competition at the last 32 stage.

I’m sure that Travellers will provide a stern test for Birstall Stamford but I make the Leicester side favourites to win this game, as they recorded a very impressive first round win in Birmingham, when they beat the reigning Festival league champions, Kingshurst, 4-1.

Lakeside Athletic v Lebeqs Tavern
This will the third Sunday Cup meeting between these South West rivals in the last four seasons. And it is Lakeside of the Plymouth & West Devon Combination who hold the upper hand, as they have won both of their previous meetings.

In fact, Lebeqs have yet to breach the Lakeside defence, as they lost at home 2-0 in last season’s first round and 1-0 at Lakeside back in 2008/09.

Both sides have experienced the business end of the competition, as Lebeqs were runners up in 2007, whilst Lakeside pushed Scots Grey all the way in the 2009 semi final.

2nd Round Review

Paddock 0 Lobster 1
This result will have raised a few eyebrows, as Paddock reached last season’s final. However, they have unfortunately been struggling this season and exited the Liverpool County FA Sunday Premier Cup at the first attempt.

A Ste Andrews goal was enough to earn Lobster a home tie against debutants Whitwick Compass from the Charnwood league.

Travellers 6 Seven Allstars 3
Seven Allstars got off to a great start in their game at Northfield Town against Travellers, when they took the lead on 4 minutes, when the home keeper, Ross, could only parry a shot up in the air for Rutherford to follow up and head home.

Travellers skipper, Wayne Dugmore, drove home from 8 yards to restore parity and this spurred Travellers on, as they took control of the game, scoring twice in the next twenty minutes, courtesy of Chris Chapman’s double.

The Allstars were given a lifeline, when Travellers’ Nash conceded a penalty for pushing an opponent in the back. Gladwin duly converted the penalty and the deficit was only goal at the half time interval.

The Allstars came out firing in the second half and when Rutherford took advantage of a slip by Farrell to fire home, they were back on terms at 3-3.

Travellers responded by making a change in the middle of the park, when they introduced Marcus Thompson in to the proceedings in place of James McKeon and within two minutes of making the substitution, Travellers were awarded a penalty when Nash was brought down in the box and Thompson stepped up restore their lead at 4-3.

Three minutes later, Travellers were awarded a free kick on the edge of the penalty area and Thompson was on hand to strike a delightful shot in to top left hand corner.

With the Allstars pushing everyone forward, Travellers were able to hit them on the counter attack and when Chapman was tackled, the ball fell to Thompson, who completed his hat-trick (after only being on the pitch for 18 minutes) and the last of the nine goals scored, in what proved to be an absorbing cup tie.

Oyster Martyrs 6 Belt Road 0
Holders Oyster Martyrs made a clear statement of their intent, as they recorded an emphatic win over Cannock Chase leaguers Belt Road.

Last season’s key man, Leighton McGivern, scored two, as did Kevin Riley. Thomas Rooney is another prolific scorer in Sunday football and he weighed in with a goal. Dean Astbury completed the rout.

The Dog 0 Whitwick Compass 6
Whitwick Compass made it ten goals in two games, as they followed their first round victory over Bartley Green, with a thumping away win in Staffordshire, courtesy of goals from Blythe (2), Hill, Thornley, Schultz and Sampson.

Loughborough Saints 5 St Josephs (Luton) 0
Sunday Cup legends St Josephs fell to one of their heaviest ever defeats in the competition, as they were well beaten in this battle of the Saints, by Loughborough Saints, another member of the Charnwood league who enjoyed a memorable second round victory.

St Josephs couldn’t handle Loughborough’s Baker, who scored four of the Saints five goals. Bettles completed the scoring for the Saints, who now face another home tie, against last season’s semi finalists, Comets Sports Club.

FC Nirankari 0 New Salamis 5
FC Nirankari of the Stevenage & District league started like a house on fire against their highly fancied opponents from the London based Kopa league and it was one-way traffic in the early stages, culminating in the award of a penalty in the 16th minute.

New Salamis goalkeeper, Michael Kalli, came to the rescue of his side, as he saved the penalty and this helped inspire the Salamis, who opened the scoring fifteen minutes later, Jeff Hammond.

The Salamis made a change at half time, bringing on Kyri Portou who increased the Red’s lead with a brilliant goal when he dribbled past two players on the left and curled a shot into the top corner.

George Gregoriou scored the third on the hour mark and after the early scare, the Salamis were now in cruise control at 3-0. Richard Georgiou put the result beyond doubt in the 75th minute and Kyri Portou made it 5-0 with just three minutes remaining, when he scored his second goal.

Gym United 0 Tripimeni 3
New Salamis Kopa league rivals, Tripimeni, were also on the road, although their trip to Bury St Edmonds was certainly further away than Stevenage, as they faced Gym United from the Bury & District league.

However, unlike the Salamis, Tripimeni started well and were 2-0 to the good, mid-way through the first half, courtesy of goals from Ahmet Rifat and Alfie Bartram.

Gym Utd threw everything they had at Tripimeni in the second half but failed to trouble the visitors defence and Ahmet Rifat scored his second with five minutes left, so seal a deserved 3-0 win.

Tripimeni now face a home tie against the free scoring Falcons of the Cambridge & District league, who have scored 16 goals in their two Sunday Cup games.