4th Round Review

Birstall Stamford 3 Oyster Martyrs 4
Champions Oyster Martyrs were pushed all the way by experienced Sunday Cup campaigners Birstall Stamford and needed extra time to squeeze past their Leicestershire based hosts.

Once again, it was Oyster’s big guns who delivered the goods, as their goals were courtesy of a Leighton McGivern brace, one from Thomas Rooney and Captain Tony Rendell weighed in with the other, as Oyster recorded their tenth consecutive Sunday Cup win. Adam Webster (2) and James Dodd replied for Birstall.

Sungate 0 v Comets Sports Club 4
Comets Sports Club reached the last 8 for the second season running, as they beat Essex Corinthian outfit Sungate.

The first half was a very open game, with both teams playing an expansive passing game. The only goal of the half was scored by Comets as Ashley Addison benefited from a melee in Sungate’s penalty area to drive a shot home.

During the second half, Comets adopted a strong defensive formation and looked to utilise the pace of Luke Sharpley to attack the home side on the break. With Sungate pushing for the equaliser, they were vulnerable to Comets counter attacking style and the Berkhamsted side doubled their lead when Sharpley won a penalty, which captain Shane Wood converted.

Two further goals from Wood completed his hat trick and an excellent win for the Comets.

Hetton Lyons CC 3 Kelloe WMC 1
The Brewery Field, Spennymoor has played host to some of Durham’s finest Sunday sides over the years, with both Brandon United and Langley Park Rams Head lifting the Sunday Cup there, whilst nearly 4,000 watched Wear Valley from Willington push Carlton United all the way in the 1973 final, before losing in extra time.

This time around, a crowd of approx 240 watched Durham Sunday League rivals Hetton Lyons and Kelloe WMC battle it out for a place in the quarter- finals.

Both sides created chances and it was Hetton who came the closest to opening the scoring, when a free kick hit the bar and the follow up effort was well saved by Kelloe keeper Carl Morris. However, Hetton were not to be denied for long and they took the lead on 24 minutes, following a swift counter attack and a good finish from Joe Walton.

Kelloe almost levelled on 38 minutes with a free kick from Kieran Megran but keeper Keith Finch made a good save at the foot of a post. The official had been fairly lenient with a few tasty challenges but had little option but to show a straight red card to Kyle Davis for a bad tackle after 44 minutes, which reduced Hetton to 10 men.

Despite the one-man advantage, Kelloe were unable to control the game and it was the 10 men of Hetton who played the better football. Hetton should have regained the lead on 63 minutes but Morris made a good save to deny Walton. The respite for Kelloe was only temporary, however, as Hetton did score again a minute later, when Mark Davison was allowed a free header, which looped over the keeper and into the far corner.

Kelloe enjoyed much possession but rarely threatened and it was Hetton who wrapped it up in the 81st minute when substitute Daniel Craggs cross from the right hand side fortuitously dropped just inside the far post.

Thanks to Malcolm Mudd for the match report

Canada 2 Stockton Rosegale N&SA 0
Despite some difficult conditions, there was another excellent contest at Burscough, where Stockton Rosegale were perhaps left to rue a lack of discipline that could have cost them the chance of pulling off something of an upset.

Whilst Canada have a long pedigree in the FA Sunday Cup, their visitors from the Stockton Sunday League are in their debut season, but with three away wins already under their belt they were always likely to prove tough opponents, particularly as a number of their squad play in the Northern League on Saturdays, with Thornaby, Norton and Stockton Ancients and Billingham Synthonia represented.

With the wind at their backs in the first half Canada made most of the running without getting the breakthrough, and in fact the visitors came closest on 35 minutes, when a Mark Lilley shot from 25 yards crashed against the base of the post. The crucial moment of the game came just a minute later, when Stockton Rosegale skipper Liam George foolishly left his foot in against a grounded opponent, and although contact (if any) was minimal, the referee was left with only one option, which was to produce the red card.

Canada grabbed the lead a minute before the break, when Paul Parles wind assisted cross from the left dipped in at the far post. They doubled their lead in the 55th minute, when Stockton keeper Stuart Newbold got little distance on his punch from a Danny O’Brien’s free kick and Andy Williams was on hand to turn the ball home.

From then on it was very much a case of the ten men of Stockton Rosegale having much the better of the play with the wind behind them, whilst Canada were reduced to the occasional counter-attack. However, the chances wouldn’t go in for the visitors, with Jamie Dawson and Danny Earl both denied by the woodwork, and the final margin could have been wider had not a stoppage time Steven Tames penalty been saved by Stuart Newbold, but the visitors biggest regret must have been not keeping 11 players on the pitch.

Thanks to Andy Gilman for the match report

FC Tripimeni 4 Dee Road Rangers 3
Reading & District league outfit Dee Road Rangers took the lead after less than five minutes, when Tripimeni’s keeper rushed out and was beaten to the ball by Ray Spence, who rounded the keeper to score.

Tripimeni battled back in to the game and after a period of sustained pressure midway through the half, they equalised through Darryl Cox. Minutes later, Dee Road hit the bar from a free kick that was taken just outside the penalty area.

The second half started with another early goal for Dee Road, who hit the post and fortunately for them Ray Spence was once again on hand to drill the ball home. Dee Road extended their advantage ten minutes later, leaving Tripimeni to score at least two goals with 20 minutes remaining. However, it was far from game over as both teams continued to play end-to-end football and more goals looked likely.

With the wind calming down and the introduction of Alex Philippou, Bambos and Alfie Cox, combined with the steadying influence of Terry Paul changed the game for Tripimeni and they got a goal back, when Dee Road conceded an own goal and with just 5 minutes left, they equalised when Darryl Cox scored his second and sent the game in to extra time.

Both teams continued to play open football but neither were able to convert their chances, so with a penalty shoot-out looming, Tripimeni launched one final assault on the Dee Road goal. Alfie Bartram made a run into the penalty area and was fouled by the Dee Road defence, which earned Tripimeni a last minute penalty, which Naim Essiaghi duly dispatched.

Dee Road are a successful team and are accustomed to winning more games than they lose. Unfortunately, they let their frustrations get the better of them and during the game one of their subs was red carded from the dugout for descent and another was shown the red card after the game had ended for the same reason.

Thanks to Mishi Morath for the match report