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.