Semi Final Preview

Hetton Lyons v Oyster Martyrs
This standout semi final tie, features two sides who between them have contested five of the last six finals.

Three time winners Hetton are bidding to continue a trend that has seen them lift the trophy in 2006, 2008 and 2010, whilst holders Oyster Martyrs have been given a reprieve after their controversial defeat to FC Tripimeni in the quarter final.

At the start of this season, I was hoping that this eagerly awaited game would be the final, as with all due respect to Canada, Hetton and Oyster are the North’s finest Sunday sides. I have been looking forward to these two playing each for some time, although they have met before in a 3rd round game in 2007, with Hetton beating debutants Oyster 3-1.

Whilst I don’t expect a game from four years ago to have any bearing on tomorrow’s match, what could well affect the outcome is the fallout from Oyster’s ill disciplined defeat to Tripimeni, which saw three of their players red carded. Two of those players, Stephen Porter and prolific goal scorer Thomas Rooney are suspended for the semi final. Rooney, in particular, will be a big miss for Oyster, as he links up well with their key man Leighton McGivern.

On the plus side, Captain Tony Rendell served his one match suspension last weekend and his return is a major boost for the Scouse side.

Hetton’s 5-0 quarter final win at Lea Hall was their 21st consecutive win of the season. However, in the four games they have played since, Hetton have lost twice; a 4-1 defeat to league rivals Kelloe WMC in the Durham Sunday league Cup Winners Cup final and a 1-0 defeat to Hardwick Social Club from Stockton in the semi final of the Durham County FA Cup.

This is hardly ideal preparation for their biggest game of the season but I still make Hetton the favourites to make the final.

Lakeside Athletic v Canada
With all the FC Tripimeni v Oyster Martyrs shenanigans dominating the competition’s news in the last few weeks, this semi final has been rather overshadowed, which is a great shame, as both Lakeside and Canada are very good sides, with impressive Sunday Cup records.

Whilst neither can match the final achievements of Hetton Lyons or Oyster Martyrs, both sides have reached the semi final stage before. Lakeside lost a closely fought game at Hucknall Town in 2009 against Scots Grey.

However, they don’t have to travel very far for this semi final, just over the Tamar Bridge to Saltash for what will be a very rare foray in to Cornwall for the Sunday Cup.

Canada, meanwhile, have the distinction of being the first Merseyside team to reach the last 4, which they did for the first time in 1970.

And they are becoming accustomed to making long trips in this season’s competition, after their quarter final win in Aylesbury, so a 600 mile round trip to Saltash will not phase them.

I have Canada down as slight favourites for this game and they will undoubtedly be doing their best to set up another all Liverpool & District league final against Oyster Martyrs.