It's Tranmere again!

The FA have this week announced that the final will be played at Tranmere Rovers on 21st April, with a 2.00pm kick off.

An article on the FA website states that it is the second time that Prenton Park has hosted the final. However, it will actually be the fifth time the final has been played there! The first final there was in 1981 when Fantail beat Mackintosh from Norwich.

The 1985 final was another Merseyside v Norfolk clash, as Avenue from Birkenhead played Hobbies from Dereham. This tie went to three games, with the first replay at Tranmere.

Avenue played two Sunday Cup games at Tranmere in 1986, as they beat Fantail Autex in a semi-final replay and Glenn Sports from Watford in the final.

I must admit that I was surprised to learn that this season's final will once again be played in the North West. Ten of the last eleven finals have been played there - eight consecutive at Anfield, two at Tranmere, whilst last season's final was played in Sunderland.

I went to the 2011 final, which was an all Liverpool Sunday league affair, between Oyster Martyrs and Paddock, so it made sense for it to be played at Tranmere. However, I think a change should have been made for this season. Don't get me wrong, Prenton Park is an impressive ground but I would have preferred a neutral venue somewhere in the midlands, as that seems fairer to both sides.

Barnes Albion 4 v Upshire 3

Congratulations to Barnes Albion who managed to edge past Upshire in this afternoon's semi-final at Staines Town. Extra time was required to decide the winner, with both teams locked at 2-2 after 90 minutes.

Barnes will now contest the final against Oyster Martyrs, which has a provisional date of 21st April at a venue to be decided.

Many thanks to Spencer Cox for confirming this result.

HT Sports 2 Oyster Martyrs 3

This was a cracker of a game, packed with quality goals, good football, a sending off and a missed penalty! 
 
Oyster were the better team in the first half and had several chances to open the scoring, which they failed to take. At the forefront of the Oyster attack was Leighton McGivern and some of his play was, at times, mesmeric, as the HT defence struggled to contain him - one delightful back heel set up Thomas Rooney and his goal bound shot was well saved by the HT keeper.

Local side HT Sports opened the scoring against the run of play on the 31st minute when Chris Howarth rounded the advancing keeper to give them the lead. This lasted all of three minutes, when McGivern jinked his way through the HT defence, in almost Greaves-esq fashion to regain parity for Oyster.

The same player then gave his side the half time lead, when a free kick was awarded when HT's Wayne Hudson handled the ball outside of the penalty area. Up stepped McGivern, whose thunderbolt of a free kick in to the top left corner of the goal gave the HT keeper no chance. HT 1-2

It was 3-1 to Oyster just three minutes after the restart, when Dean Astbury's superb strike flew in. The next incident in this compelling game was a potential game changer, as Oyster keeper Jack Mano was sent off, when he was shown a second yellow card for his blatant trip on HT's Steve Palfrey. Well travelled centre half Lee Connor successfully converted two spot kick's for HT on Thursday evening, when they lost in the semi-final of the Leeds & District FA cup on penalties. However, his penalty was superbly tipped on to the bar by sub goalie, Gary Smith, to deny the Leeds side a way back in to the game.

Sam Hewitt did give HT some hope in the 74th minute, when he reduced the arrears to one goal but despite their best efforts, it was 10 man Oyster who did enough to reach their third Sunday Cup final.

After travelling up to the North East twice this year and down to Hucknall in previous rounds, I was delighted to be able to watch a game that was only being played 15 minutes drive away from my house! However, in my excitement to get there, I forgot to bring my camera with me, so unfortunately, I am unable to publish any photos to go with this report.

HT Sports v Oyster Martyrs

Oyster Martyrs will become only the second Merseyside team to reach three finals (Birkenhead side Avenue played in three successive finals in the mid 1980’s) if they can beat HT Sports at Guiseley this afternoon.

HT are having a wonderful debut season in the competition but their bid to reach the final will be severely tested by favourites, Oyster, who are playing their fourth semi-final in five seasons.

Oyster will have fond memories of playing at Nethermoor Park, which was the venue for their first semi-final appearance in 2009, where they overcame HT’s Leeds Combination league rivals, Fforde Grene in a game spoilt by strong winds.

HT entered the Sunday Cup on the back of a very successful 2011/12 season, which saw them crowned league champions for the sixth time, complete a league and cup double, by winning the Sandford cup for the fifth consecutive year and they also lifted the Leeds and District FA Sunday Senior Cup. They have reached the semi -final the hard way, with four of their five victories being away from home. In fact, the semi-final will be the first time that HT have actually played a Sunday Cup game in Leeds, as they elected to play their home games at Brighouse Town.

Despite retaining the Liverpool County FA Premier Cup, Oyster had a relatively disappointing 2011/12 season, given their usual high standards. They finished fourth in the Liverpool Sunday league, Premier Division (they were 15 points adrift of champions Canada) and lost both their Sunday Cup quarter final (in a bad tempered game against Tripimeni) and when reinstated, lost a hard fought semi-final against Hetton Lyons.

I think today will be a close game but I have to make Oyster the favourites to make the final, although I wouldn’t write off HT’s chances altogether.

Semi Final Postponement

Tomorrow's semi final between Barnes Albion and Upshire has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Staines Town. The game has been rearranged for next Sunday.

The HT Sports v Oyster Martyrs game is still scheduled to go ahead at Guiseley tomorrow.