Lea Hall Sports & Social 0 v Hetton Lyons CC 5

Three time winners Hetton Lyons remain on course to lift the FA Sunday Cup for the fourth time, as they put debutants Lea Hall from the Birmingham Festival league to the sword at Solihull Moors.

After a fairly even opening 10 minutes, Hetton came close to opening the scoring in the 16th minute, when a shot from outside the penalty area cannoned off the cross bar.

However, they did find the net a minute later, when Lea Hall failed to clear the ball and Hetton forward Mark Davison drilled the ball home in to the bottom left hand corner to give his side the lead.

Hetton nearly made it 2-0 on the half hour mark, when a curled effort hit the post. By this stage, Hetton were well on top but could not add to their goal tally, whilst the home side had enjoyed some possession but could not produce either the killer pass or a shot on target to trouble the men from Durham.

Lea Hall’s chances of getting back in to the game were dealt a severe blow midway through the second half, when following an incident on the halfway line, one of their players was sent off.

I must admit that, from where I was stood (at the top end of the ground, near the rugby scoreboard) I didn’t have a great view of the sending off and we were all surprised to see the referee brandish the red card.

Hetton revelled in the extra space that their one man advantage gave them and eight minutes after the sending off, they doubled their lead, through a cracking individual goal from Joe Walton, who finished well from just outside the 6 yard box.

A superb save from the Lea Hall keeper who tipped the ball over the bar in the 82nd minute denied Hetton a third but the respite was only temporary, as substitute Nicky Kane made it 3-0 three minutes later.

Two goals from Mark Davison in four minutes completed the 5-0 rout and his hat trick.

5-0 sounds a hammering but as four of the goals came after the sending off and three of those came in the last 7 minutes, the score line was harsh on Lea Hall who just did not possess the creativity needed to make the most of the possession they had.

Semi Final Draw

Ties to be played on 18th March:

Hetton Lyons v FC Tripmeni
Lakeside Athletic v Canada

So, Tripimeni's reward for knocking out the holders is a long trip up the A1 to face Sunday Cup legends, Hetton Lyons!

The FA will anounce the venues shortly. From memory, I believe that Hetton played a previous 'home' semi final at Durham City, so the FA may well choose the same venue this time.

Quarter Final Results

Lakeside Athletic 3 v Comets Sports Club 1
FC Tripimeni 1 v Oyster Martyrs 0
Elm Farm 1 v Canada 2
Lea Hall Sports & Social 0 v Hetton Lyons 5

I was at the Lea Hall and Hetton Lyons game and will publish a match report with photos tomorrow.

No guesses for the result of the round...well done to Tripimeni for ending Oyster's reign, in what sounds like a feisty encounter, as Oyster had 3 players sent off!

Thanks to Ian Porter and John Treleven for the results.

5th Round Preview

Elm Farm v Canada
Surprise package Elm Farm of the Aylesbury Combination are bidding to reach the semi final in their debut season in the competition. Whilst they are an unknown quantity on the national stage, they have a superb domestic record, which saw them crowned league champions last season, with a 100% record from their 14 games.

They also raised a few eyebrows with their impressive 3-1 win over the highly rated Barnes Albion in the 4th round. Their reward for this fine run is a home tie against Canada, who in stark contrast to their hosts, have a long and distinguished Sunday Cup record.

Canada will no doubt look to the prolific Steven Tames for their goals, as they strive to reach another semi final.

Lakeside Athletic v Comets Sports Club
This is probably the closest quarter final tie to call, as both sides have appeared in the semi finals in recent seasons and appear to be well matched.

Comets have proved that last season’s achievements were no fluke and have notched up some impressive wins this season, most notably their 4-0 win over Essex side Sungate (2010 quarter finalists and 3-0 winners over last season’s semi finalists, Northampton Duke of York).

Lakeside have also had some great wins this season, as they beat last season’s quarter finalists Club Lewsey on penalties in the 4th round and their old adversaries Lebeqs Tavern Courage the round before.

FC Tripimeni v Oyster Martyrs
The London FA Sunday Challenge cup has been dominated by the Kopa League for the last few years and Tripimeni are former winners of that competition, under their previous name of Aris. It’s good to see the Kopa’s best sides (New Salamis and Tripimeni) test themselves against the best sides in the Country and given their standing in the Capital, this, for me, makes this tie the game of the round.

It’s been business as usual for Oyster this season. Ritchie Rooney may no longer pick the side but the key personnel that he put in place are still there and Oyster are still on course for their 3rd final in 4 seasons.

I think Tripimeni will give the holders a game but I can’t see Oyster slipping up.

Lea Hall Sports & Social v Hetton Lyons
Like their fellow debutants Elm Farm, Lea Hall progressed quietly through the early rounds and then produced the result of the 3rd round, when they ended the hopes of London FA giants, New Salamis.

Standing in their way of a semi final appearance, are Hetton Lyons, the greatest ever team in the history of this competition!!!

Hetton enjoy close links with Spennymoor Town, the 2009/10 and 2010/11 Northern League Champions. When Spennymoor decided to place the majority of their squad on contracts, doubts were cast over Hetton’s chances of adding to their record haul of three Sunday Cup titles. However, this has not affected Hetton’s on the field performances and once again, they remain the side to beat in this competition.

I’ve just found out that Hetton Lyons have travelled down for the game today, so hopefully, I’ll see another absorbing game in this fantastic competition tomorrow.

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

5th Round Draw

Ties to be played on 19th February:

Lakeside Athletic (Plymouth & West Devon) v Comets Sports Club (Berkhamsted)
FC Tripimeni (KOPA - London) v Oyster Martyrs (Liverpool)
Elm Farm (Aylesbury Comb) v Canada (Liverpool)
Lea Hall S & S (Birmingham Festival) v Hetton Lyons Cricket Club (Durham)

Tripimeni v Oyster Martyrs is probably the tie of the round, closely followed by Lea Hall v Hetton Lyons.

Lakeside and Comets have both reached the semi finals in recent seasons and should be another quality match up. The remaining game is between debutants Elm Farm and the vastly experienced Canada, who were the first Liverpool side to reach the semi final, way back in 1970.

4th Round Results

Hetton Lyons 3 Kelloe WMC 1
Canada 2 Stockton Rosegale N&SA 0
Sungate 0 Comets Sports Club 4
FC Tripimeni 4 Dee Road Rangers 3
Elm Farm 3 Barnes Albion 1
Whitwick Compass 0 Lea Hall 1

More results to follow - the blog will be updated later.

As always, if you know any results from today's games, please email them to me at fasundaycupblog@hotmail.co.uk

Many thanks to those who have provided the above results.

4th Round Preview

Whitwick Compass 2008 v Lea Hall Sports & Social
This east v west midlands derby pits two debutants against each other, as Whitwick Compass of the Charnwood league take on Birmingham Festival league side Lea Hall.

Lea Hall notched an impressive third round win over New Salamis who are arguably London’s finest Sunday side, having won the London FA Sunday Challenge Cup three times in the last four seasons and were heavily tipped to do well in the Sunday Cup.

Whitwick Compass have already accounted for Lea Hall’s Festival league rivals Bartley Green in round one and ended the Sunday Cup hopes of Lobster in round three (after they had beaten last season’s runners up, Paddock in round two).

I make Lea Hall favourites to win this game and become the first Festival league side to reach the quarter final since Wernley in 2007.

Hetton Lyons v Kelloe WMC
These two sides know each other very well, as they both hail from the Durham Sunday league.

Three time winners Hetton are bidding to become only the second team to appear in four finals – St Josephs (Luton) were the first – and reclaim the trophy they lifted in 2006, 2008 and 2010. So, will this pattern continue in 2012? If they can maintain their current form, there is every chance, as Hetton have a perfect record so far this season, having won all of there 19 league and cup games.

Kelloe beat Hetton in three cup competitions last season, with the most memorable victory coming in the Durham County FA Sunday Cup, a tournament that Hetton had won for five consecutive seasons! However, Kelloe are struggling in the league (Hetton have already beaten them twice,
5-1 and 7-0) and have only won three of their eight league games.

Hetton start as clear favourites to reach the quarter finals and for me (along with Oyster Martyrs) they remain the teams to beat in this competition.

Birstall Stamford v Oyster Martyrs
This is probably the tie of the round and should be an absolute cracker of a game.

Like Whitwick Compass, Birstall Stamford hail from the Charnwood league and have an impressive Sunday football pedigree, which I have covered previously, so I won’t repeat again.

Their opponents from Croxteth in Liverpool, an area rich in footballing talent, which has produced three FA Sunday Cup finalists.

I think Oyster will win this one but I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Birstall Stamford push them all the way to extra time.

FC Tripimeni v Dee Road Rangers
Another tie that caught the eye sees Tripimeni of the Kopa league entertain Dee Road from Reading.

Both teams made their Sunday Cup debut last season. Dee Road were first round casualties, losing 5-3 to Club Lewsey. FC Tripimeni-Aris as they were known last season, reached the third round, where they lost narrowly to eventual semi finalists, Duke of York from Northampton.

Dee Road quietly navigated their way through the early rounds this season, as they dispatched Broadfields United from Harrow and C. K. from Bristol. However, it was their very impressive 5-0 third round win over 2010 semi finalists Hazelhurst, that has made people sit up and take notice.

Tripimeni have comfortably progressed through three rounds without being pushed to hard. I think Dee Road will certainly give them a game but I find this tie too hard to call.

8th January results

Outstanding 3rd round results:

Salisbury Athletic 0 Oyster Martyrs 3
Lakeside Athletic 4 Lebeqs Tavern Courage 2
Lobster 2 Whitwick Compass 2008 3

If you know any results from the other games taking place today, please email them to fasundaycupblog@hotmail.co.uk

3rd Round Review

Firstly, I'd like to wish everyone a belated Merry Christmas and all the best for 2012! Secondly, I'd like to apologise for the delay in updating the blog. I'll put this down to being a Dad to 3 young kids and we are still opening Christmas presents as I type this latest update!

Barnes Albion 1 Wrightchoice CSA 1 – Barnes won 5-4 on penalties
On an extremely bitter afternoon at Rectory Meadow (the home of Hanworth Villa) debutants Barnes Albion from the West Middlesex league, required a penalty shoot-out to overcome a spirited Wrightchoice side from the Reading Sunday League.

Barnes are the current holders of the Surrey County FA Senior cup, are also affiliated to the Middlesex County FA (they reached last season’s semi-final of the Middlesex County FA Premier cup) and are well fancied to go far in the Sunday Cup. However, their youthful opponents were not daunted by their host’s pedigree and took the lead after 10 minutes, courtesy of a fantastic strike from Adam Kingsbeer, which gave keeper Richard Priest no chance.

Barnes laid siege to the Wrightchoice goal in the second half but could not fashion the equaliser their play deserved. Sub Danny Buckle was introduced with 15 minutes remaining and his neat hold-up play and passing made a huge difference for Barnes, although the momentum gained by this positive change, was short lived, as centre forward Mark Gallagher saw red for two bookable offences and things went from bad to worse, when Joe Willis was also sent off!

With just two minutes remaining, the nine men pushed forward and were awarded a penalty, which Adam Willis converted, to send the game in to extra time. Unbelievably, Barnes had a third player sent off in extra time, when the impressive Angus Martin was dismissed, when he received his second yellow card! Barnes nearly snatched victory with their final attack, when a low cross was met by Luke Driscoll, who hit the post.

Barnes went first in the penalty shoot-out and both sides successfully converted 11 penalties. With sudden death looming, Wrightchoice, failed to hit the target with their fifth spot kick and an ecstatic Barnes Albion were through to the last 16. The match was a credit to both sides and not the dirty game that 6 bookings and 3 sending offs would suggest.

Many thanks to Spencer Cox for this report

Loughborough Saints 1 v Comets Sports Club 3
There wasn’t much to choose between these two sides for the first ten minutes, but Comets then began to settle and started to dominate possession. The Saints goalkeeper made a couple of saves but when a free kick was awarded to Comets outside Loughborough’s penalty box, Chris Marsh expertly bent it around the wall, low into the far corner to give Comets the lead.

Ten minutes before the interval, Comets’ left back Dan Hartley brought down the Saints striker as he was bearing down on goal. After a lengthy consultation with his assistant, the referee deemed that a yellow card and free-kick on the edge of the box was sufficient penalty for the misdemeanour, which the Saints player duly blasted through the Comets’ wall, deflecting past keeper Johnny Pearce to restore parity.

Loughborough had their tails up for the first period of the second-half but were unable to capitalise due to sound defending by the Comets back four, marshalled superbly by Joel Williams and Shane Wood.

With twenty minutes remaining, Comets’ right-back, Woods Mullan, played a long ball down the line for Chris Marsh to chase. Marsh, who had been running the opposition ragged all afternoon, then drifted past the left full-back and picked out Jack Wood on the penalty spot to deftly slot the ball inside the left-hand post to put Comets back in front.

Saints tried valiantly to conjure up an equaliser, forcing a good save from Pearce, but the Comets defence, and midfielders, Daniel Holliman, Alex McCarthy and Adam Martin, stood firm before Marsh once again broke clear and was subsequently brought down inside the box for a penalty. Comets’ skipper, Shane Wood, stepped up to convert the spot-kick and put the tie beyond the Leicestershire side.

Many thanks to Kev Mullan for this report.

Canada 4 Queens Park 1
This tie pitted together two serious contenders in this competition. Canada, so named because they were formed by a group of workers at Liverpool's Canada Dock, are four times semi finalists, and this season are very much at the heart of what looks like being a very tight title race in the Liverpool Sunday League. Queens Park have regularly featured in the latter stages of this cup in recent years, and the reigning Birkenhead Sunday League champions remain unbeaten in their league this season.

Although Queens Park have the better of the possession in the first half, they trail to a 13th minute goal as Carl Furlong hooks the ball home at the near post. They almost equalise from a Terry Cotgrave free-kick, the ball glancing off John Johnson's head, or possibly his defensive marker, and hitting the bar, but the visitors have keeper David Peace to thank for a fine save just before the interval to keep out Danny O'Brien's header.

As the second half gets underway this has the feel of a cup tie in which anything could happen, and the crucial moment arrives on 58 minutes as Danny O'Brien puts Stephen Tames away, and with Queens Park appeals for what must be a very tight offside call waved away by the linesman, Tames runs on to finish confidently. Tames goes on to complete an 11 minute hat-trick, the next two goals very similar, long balls catching the defensive line far to high, Tames finishing for his second goal with a tremendous drive into the top corner, and his third by rounding the keeper.

Queens Park do keep pushing forward to their credit, and David Bowe scores a consolation penalty on 80 minutes after player-manager Lee Gibson is brought down. There are a couple more chances at either end as the play becomes very stretched, but 4-1 is the final outcome, with the Queens Park supporters very sporting in their praise of their opponents at full time. As for Canada, they must be thinking this could be the year they at last reach the final.

Many thanks to Andy Gilman for this report.

Dawdon Colliery Welfare 3 v Stockton Rosegale N&SA 5
Stockton Rosegale kept up their impressive Sunday Cup campaign, by registering their third successive away win. They also maintained their five goals-a-game average and it was they who struck first in this game against their North East rivals from the Peterlee & District league, when Billy Gatenby headed home a Danny Rowbotham cross.

Danny Earl then added a second with a delicate chip over the keeper after a neat through ball by Dean Bell. Rosegale made it 3-0 in the second half, when Bell smashed home a loose ball after Earl was tripped in the box.

Dawdon were given a foothold in the game, with the award of a penalty, which they duly converted.

The ever dangerous Earl who continued to turn defenders inside out and caused the home side no end of problems, scored a fine goal, when he controlled a long clearance, before outpacing the Dawdon defence and curling his shot around the advancing keeper to restore Rosegale’s three goal advantage.

Dawdon rallied on the hour and the two goals they scored in a 15 minute ‘purple patch’ that followed, dramatically brought the home side back in to contention. In fact, it took a top class save by Stuart Newbold to prevent Dawdon from levelling the score at 4-4. .

Billy Gatenby put the game beyond Dawdon, when he fired home his second goal to earn Rosegale yet another away tie, this time on Merseyside, where they will play Canada.

FC Tripimeni 5 v Falcons 2
Free-scoring Falcons from the Cambridge & District league went in to this game full of confidence, after scoring 16 goals in their two previous Sunday Cup games.

However, in Tripimeni, they came up against one of London’s finest Sunday side’s and a team fancied to go far in the competition.

The Kopa league side went in to the interval with a 2-1 lead, courtesy of goals from Naim and Alfie Cox. Tripimeni had several chances to increase their lead but failed to do so and Falcons equalised, with the best goal of the game, when a shot from the edge of the penalty box flew straight into the corner of the net, giving the Tripimeni goal keeper no chance.

This set back spurred Tripimeni on and they scored a further three goals without reply. Alfie Cox completed his hat trick and Karim notched his second to earn Tripimeni a mouth-watering home clash against Dee Road Rangers, whose highly impressive 5-0 away win Hazelhurst was arguably the result of the round.