FA Sunday Cup final - match report

Hetton Lyons extended their own record-breaking run of success in the FA Sunday Cup, as they claimed their fourth title when they steamrollered Canada at a very wet Stadium of Light, Sunderland.

Hetton were dominant throughout and the score line completely does justice to the way they dismantled a very disappointing Canada side, who just failed to perform on the day.

Despite being champions of the highly regarded Liverpool & District Sunday league and having beaten Sunday Cup holders Oyster Martyrs three times this season, Canada went in to this game as underdogs, bearing in mind Hetton’s incredible record in the competition and the fact that they clearly had an advantage in playing the game in their native North East.

Hetton opened the scoring in the third minute, when they took the direct route to the Canada goal. Lyons keeper, Keith Finch, launched a huge free kick from ten yards outside of his penalty area, which was headed on by rangy striker Mark Davison in to the path of prolific goal scorer Warren Byrne, who just managed to beat the advancing Canada goalkeeper, Ryan Brookfield, to the loose ball and give the Lyons the lead.

Byrne doubled the Hetton lead on 17 minutes, when he slid in at the far post to convert right back Kallum Griffiths cross, to leave Canada rocking at 2-0 down.

Canada’s own hot shot Steven Tames found himself with an ideal opportunity to drag his team back in to the game on the half hour mark, as he bore down on goal, following a run from the half way line. Unfortunately for him, he drilled his shot just wide of the post.

Half time score: Hetton Lyons 2 Canada 0

Things went from bad to worse for Canada, as they found themselves 3-0 down in the 51^st minute, when a daisy cutter of a free kick was somewhat fortuitously swept home at the near post by Hetton captain, Daniel Moore.

It was nearly 4-0 a minute later, when Warren Byrne was presented with his hat-trick chance, which he only just failed to take.

A mazy run from the half way line from Stephen Capper, set up Mark Davison in the 59^th minute, and he was unlucky to see his effort rebound off the post. However, the loose ball fell straight to the unmarked Capper, whose superb left foot finish evaded Brookfield’s despairing lunge.

Capper is no stranger to big match football and already has two Sunday Cup winner’s medals, prior to today’s final. He also captained the Republic of Ireland in the FIFA World Youth Championships in 2003 and the following year, he came on as a 13^th minute substitute for Scarborough in their glamorous fourth round FA Cup tie against Chelsea.

There was to be no hat trick for Hetton’s Warren Byrne, as he was substituted in the 66^th minute. Canada then pulled a goal back three minutes later, when Joe Fargan headed home from a corner.

However, this proved to be just a mere consolation and with Canada unable to reduce the arrears further, it was left to Hetton sub Daniel Craggs to complete the scoring in stoppage time, when he sprung the Canada offside trap and rounded Brookfield to score from close range. 

Craggs has another big day to look forward to shortly, as he is a member of the Dunston side who have reached the FA Vase final. No doubt he will look to join Sandor Gyalog who lifted the Sunday Cup and Vase in the same season, back in 1995.

So, in the end, a very easy final game for Hetton and the big challenge they face for next season is retaining the Sunday Cup, which, despite all the success they have enjoyed over the last decade or so, is the one honour they have been so far unable to achieve.