Sunday 22nd December

Winlaton Commercial v Witton Park Rose & Crown - tie postponed.

Game now scheduled for 29th December at West Auckland - 1.00pm kick off.

4th Round Draw

Ties to be played on 19th January - 1.00pm KO 

Winlaton Commercial or Witton Park Rose & Crown v Oyster Martyrs
Humbledon Plains Farm v Mariners
Allerton v Whitwick Compass
Thornhill Lees v Chapeltown Fforde Grene
AYFCS v Plough FC Wellington
Hundred Acre v FC Houghton Centre
New Salamis v Branksome Railway
Lebeq Tavern Courage v Upshire

Blog Updates
Apologies to all those who have been checking the blog for a 2nd round review. Unfortunately, due to a combination of family illness and Christmas preparations, football has had to take a backseat for the last couple of weeks.

Hopefully things will now start to calm down a bit and I can return to the partially written review and update the blog before the end of the month.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who view the blog and I hope you will continue to do so. I'd like to wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy new year!

I'll update the blog with details of the one outstanding third round tie later today (if it is played!)

Sunday 15th December - 3rd round results

Allerton 1 Hetton Lyons 0
Mariners 2 Lobster 1
Pineapple 1 Humbledon Plains Farm 5
HT Sports 1 Oyster Martyrs 2
Thornhill Lees 6 Hartlepool Athletic 0
Chapeltown Fforde Grene 2 Buttershaw Whitestar 0
Star & Garter 1 Hundred Acre 1 AET (Hundred Acre won 4-2 on penalties)
Plough 5 Sporting Khalsa 3
Upshire 1 Barnes Albion 0
Two Touch 0 Lebeqs Tavern Courage 3

Winlaton Commercial v Witton Park Rose & Crown - Cancelled

Sunday 24th November

Outstanding 2nd round tie:

Loughborough Saints v Sporting Khalsa - Sporting Khalsa won 4-2 on penalties (final score unknown!).

3rd round draw

Games to take place on Sunday 15th December - 1.00pm KO

HT Sports v Oyster Martyrs
Allerton v Hetton Lyons
Mariners v Lobster
Thornhill Lees v Hartlepool Athletic Rovers
Chapeltown Fforde Grene v Buttershaw Whitestar
Pineapple v Humbledon Plains Farm
Winlaton Commercial v Witton Park Rose & Crown
Whitwick Compass v Albion
FC Houghton Centre v Sparta Moshdock
Star & Garter v Hundred Acre
Plough Wellington v Loughborough Saints or Sporting Khalsa
Two Touch v Lebeqs Tavern Courage
Upshire v Barnes Albion
New Salamis v Belstone
Branksome Railway v AFC Kumazi Strikers
AYFCS v Rayners Lane

Sunday 17th November - 2nd Round Results

Hetton Lyons 5 v Burradon & New Fordley 2
Hartlepool Lion Hillcarter 0 v Pineapple 3
The Old Bank 2 v HT Sports 4
Hartlepool Athletic Rovers 6 v Bolton Woods 2
Suttonfields 1 v Winlaton Commercial 2
Buttershaw Whitestar 3 v Nicosia 1
Chapeltown Fforde Grene 3 v Garston 1
The Warden 2 v Thornhill Lees 6
Canada 0 v Oyster Martyrs 5
Albion 4 RHP Sports & Social 1
Wymeswold 0 v Hundred Acre 1
Churchill 0 Star & Garter 3
Belstone 7 Manor House 2
Lambeth All Stars 0 v FC Houghton Centre 3
New Salamis 2 v Broadfield Laurels 0
Co-op Green Man 1 v AYFCS 4
Two Touch 5 v AC Sportsman 1
Attero 1 v AFC Kumazi Strikers 4

Further updates to follow

First Round Review

First of all, apologies for not posting this sooner! I had planned to update the blog with a first round review a couple of weeks back. Better late than never, I suppose.

Many thanks to those who provided me with information by email and text message. Please keep it coming!

115 teams have been accepted in to this season’s competition. This is 16 teams down on last season and is the lowest number of entrants in 10 seasons.

With not enough teams for a preliminary round, the first round began at 11:30am in Ryhope, just outside Sunderland:

Sunderland RCA Grangetown Florists 4 v Sportsmans 3

This was a repeat of last season’s first round encounter, in which the Florists triumphed by 2 goals to 1. In a cracking game played in perfect conditions, it was the visitors from the Hambleton Combination league who drew first blood, when the lively Anderson’s hard and low cross was turned in by Florists captain Phil Hall, to give Sportsmans a third minute lead.

The Florists were on level terms just ten minutes later, when Scott Kelly drove home from the edge of the penalty box. And they took the lead five minutes after that, when a deep cross was headed in to the path of Gareth Hill, who scored from close range.

Man of the match Martin Metcalfe then converted a penalty to put the Florists 3-1 up, ten minutes before the interval. Another penalty was awarded five minutes later and this time it was Sportsmans who were celebrating, as they reduced the arrears to one goal.

A delightful 25 yard lob from Matt Harrison restored the Florists two goal advantage, just five minutes in to the second half. Sportsmans never gave up and they scored again in the 75^th minute, to set up a nervy finale. Six minutes of overtime added to the tension but the Florists hung on for a hard fought victory and face a tricky away game at Witton Park in the second round.

Newton Aycliffe 1 v Winlaton Commercial 3

Two more teams renewing acquaintances were Newton Aycliffe of the Durham Sunday league and Winlaton of the Tyneside league, who also met in last season’s first round, where Aycliffe game by a 3-1 scoreline.

Winlaton’s bid for revenge got off to a horrible start when David Fitzpatrick was sent off in the third minute!

The ten men visitors opened the scoring on 27 minutes, when a free-kick into the box was headed home. Winlaton doubled their lead in the 51st minute when Martindale scored a penalty that was awarded for handball.

It was 3-0 just five minutes later when Will Kelly was caught in possession and Mark Fitzpatrick broke from halfway before slotting home past Young.

Aycliffe scored a consolation goal in the 83rd minute when they were awarded a penalty, which was scored by Warren Byrne, who twice lifted the Sunday Cup with his former side, Hetton Lyons.

Witton Park Rose & Crown 4 v Stockton Rosegale N&SA 2

Wear Valley league outfit Witton Park reached the quarter finals in their debut season back in 2008/09. However, they have found it hard to reproduce that form since and were humiliated 10-2 in last season’s first round at former winners, Humbledon Plains Farm.

Goals from Dean Thexton, Corey Nicholson and a brace from Adam Nichols secured their passage in to round 2.

Northallerton Police 1 v Hetton Lyons Cricket Club 3
With last season’s finalists (Oyster Martyrs and Barnes Albion) both exempt to the second round, Northallerton Police were faced with arguably the most daunting task of the first round, that of trying to stop Sunday Cup legends Hetton Lyons, as they began their quest for a fifth title.

The alarm bells were ringing for the Police as early as the third minute, when a Robbie Bird strike from 20 yards hit the inside of the post and bounced clear.

However, the Police recovered and took the lead on 10 minutes when Graham Caygill received the ball just outside the area. He turned his man and hit a fine shot into the top right hand corner of the net. The lead last for 15 minutes, when Marc Ellison fired home with a 25 yard screamer.

Hetton took the lead on the hour mark, when Michael Pearson converted a right wing cross. It was 3-1 to Hetton just four minutes later, when Denver Morris fired home from another ball from the right flank.

Barrington Arms 2 v Humbledon Plains Farm 5

Debutants Barrington Arms from the Morpeth league found themselves 3-0 down at half time against former winners Humbleon Plains. However, two quick goals from David Scott and Josh Laverick put them right back in contention and Scott then missed a great chance to level the tie, when after the rounding the keeper, his hesitancy in front of goal, allowed  a Plains defender to stop his goal ward shot on the line.

Humbledon showed no such charity when they were presented with their chances and they killed the game off with two further goals.

With 17 entrants from the Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire & Rutland County FA’s, it was inevitable that there would be some East Midlands derby games

Kirkby Town 5 v Sileby Athletic 2

Kirkby Town were one of five Nottinghamshire based sides making their Sunday Cup debut in the first round. It was a family affair for Kirkby, as all of their goals were scored by the Watsons brothers; Kieren (2), Kris (2) and Nathan in their game against Sileby Athletic from the Leicestershire based Charnwood league.

Jacksdale MW 7 v Thurmaston PWMC 5

Nottinghamshire also came out on top in this 12 goal thriller. Jacksdale from the Alfreton & District league had to twice claw back a two goal deficit and they needed an equaliser in the final minute of normal time, to level the score at 4-4. Jacksdale finally put pay to their opponents from the Leicester Alliance league, when they scored three of the four goals that followed in extra time, which earned them another home tie in round 2, where they will face Thurmaston’s league rivals, Sparta Moshdock.

Birstall Stamford 2 v Sparta Moshdock 4

Three time semi-finalists Birstall Stamford from the Charnwood league exited at the first round for the second season running, as they lost to local rivals Sparta Moshdock of the Leicester Alliance. On the score-sheet for the Moshdock were Mark Preston (2), Aaron Preston and Jake Wain.

Halfway 1 v Sporting Khalsa 6

Last year, Sporting Khalsa of the Warley & District league re-entered the Sunday Cup after a ten season absence. An impressive 6-3 away win at Birmingham Festival league outfit Travellers in the first round, justified their decision to re-enter and they went on to reach the fourth round.

It was déjà vu for Khalsa in this season’s first round, as they scored another six goals on their travels to another Festival league side, Halfway. Davion Hamilton led the way with four goals. Joel Kettle and Ross Clarke added the others. Phil Morris fine individual goal was the sole highlight got Halfway.

Punchbowl 2 v Church Hill 2 – Church Hill won 7-6 on penalties

Two late goals – one in normal time, the other in extra time, cost reigning Birmingham County FA Sunday Cup champions Punchbowl a place in round 2. A late finish from Kieran Evans levelled the score at 1-1, after Punchbowl had taken an earlier lead.

Punchbowl regained their advantage in to extra time, only for Church Hill’s player manager, Stuart Hall, to score a well taken goal, with just seconds remaining.

Church Hill – the first representatives from the Redditch and South Warwickshire league to enter the Sunday Cup since Austin Ex Apprentices in 2005 – held their nerve in the penalty shoot-out and will face Star & Garter from Leicester in round 2.

Flamsted End 1 v New Salamis 7
Waltham league debutants Flamsted End had a day to forget, as they were well beaten by New Salamis of the Kopa league. The Salamis took the lead in the 5^th minute, when Deniz Mehmet set up Richard Georgiou to score.

Flamsted were on level terms a few minutes later but a Doug Morton goal in the 37^th minute restored the Salamis lead.

It was 1-3 six minutes in to the second half, when a Dean Fenton cross was converted by Deniz Mehmet. The best goal of the game followed four minutes later, when Fenton outsprinted the Flamsted back four from the half way line, before slotting home in the far corner.

Mehmet scored his second and the Salamis fifth in the 70^th minute and it was 1-6 ten minutes later, when Georgiou scored his second, a penalty, awarded after a foul on Ryan Wade. The final goal came in the final minute, when Mehmet completed his hat trick.

Attero 3 Apoel 2

Apoel are the current holders of the London County FA Sunday Challenge Cup and hail from the same league as New Salamis, which is one of the strongest Sunday leagues in London. However, they met their match in Attero from the Essex based Sceptre league. Apoel started well and took the lead in the 18th minute, courtesy of a goal from Andy McCollins.

Attero equalised and their cause was helped when Apoel were reduced to ten men, following a sending off. Attero added two goals in the second half to make it 3-1. Apoel kept going and managed to reduce the arrears, when McCollins scored again with two minutes remaining but it was too little, too late and Attero progress to round two, where they will entertain the winners of Hillbarn Athletic and Kumazi Strikers.

Hillbarn Athletic 1 AFC Kumazi Strikers 1
This game was abandoned after 33 minutes of play, due to intense heavy rain, which caused the pitch to be flooded. It was 1-1 when the game was stopped. Simon Kelly scored Hillbarn's goal from the penalty spot.

This tie was finally settled at the fourth attempt, following two postponements! It is AFC Kumazi Strikers who will go forward to meet Attero in round 2, next weekend.

Belstone (Sunday) 3 NLO 3 – Belstone (Sunday) won 4-2 on penalties

Another game played in torrential rain, was this all Harrow Sunday league clash between Belstone and NLO (North London Olympians).

NLO drew first blood with a 40 yard screamer of a goal! They increased their lead on 65 minutes and it was 0-2 until the 82^nd minute. Belstone were indebted to Mark Kirby whose brace of goals inside the last 8 minutes of normal time, brought the home side dramatically back in to the match.

Belstone then took the lead for the first time with a penalty‎ from Phil Ifil and it looked to be game over, when NLO were reduced to 10 men. However, NLO equalized with the last kick of the game from Craig Tomkins, a former Belstone player!

Unfortunately, this classic cup tie had to be settled by the lottery of a penalty shoot-out and it was Belstone who ran out 4-2 winners in the end.

Gadeside Rangers 0 v Rayners Lane 2

A superb match report for this game can be found at

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/gadesiderangersfc/s/match-centre-73947/0-2101603

This game was filmed and the highlights have been put on to Youtube.

Aylesbury

One of the most impressive Sunday league websites that I have come across is the Aylesbury Sunday Combination site. Both of their Sunday Cup entrants – AYFCS and Two Touch (formerly Britannia United) have match reports and photos from their first round games on there.

http://www.footballaylesbury.co.uk/

Sunday 10th November

Outstanding 1st round tie:

AFC Kumazi Strikers 3 Hillbarn Athletic 1

Sunday 3rd November

Outstanding 1st round games
Burnt Oak Builders Merchants 0 v Manor House 2

It would appear that AFC Kumazi Strikers and Hillbarn Athletic will have to try again next week, as the third attempt to play their game (following an abandonment a fortnight ago) has been postponed again.

Sunday 27th October - 1st round results

HT Sports 3 v Home and Bargain 1
Lambeth All Stars 4 v Putney Town 1

Postponement - Sunday 27th October

Hillbarn Athletic V AFC Kumazi Strikers

2nd round draw

Ties to be played on 17th November:

Lobster v Queens Park
Canada v Oyster Martyrs
Witton Park Rose & Crown v Sunderland RCA Grangetown Florists
Chapeltown Fford Grene v Garston
Seymour v Humbledon Plains Farm
Mariners v Kirkdale
Hetton Lyons Cricket Club v Burradon & New Fordley
Buttershaw Whitestar v Nicosia
The Warden v Thornhill Lees
Allerton v Alder
Hartlepool Lion Hillcarter v Pineapple
The Old Bank v HT Sports or Home & Bargain
Sutton Fields v Winlaton Commercial
Hartlepool Athletic Rovers v Bolton Woods
Albion v RHP Sports & Social
Wymeswold v Hundred Acre
Plough FC Wellington v Kirkby Town
Loughborough Saints v Sporting Khalsa (Sunday)
Church Hill v Star & Garter
Jacksdale MW v Sparta Moshdock
Bilsthorpe Celtic v Whitwick Compass
Lambeth All Stars or Putney Town v FC Houghton Centre
New Salamis v Broadfields Laurels
Two Touch v AC Sportsman
Attero v Hillbarn Athletic or AFC Kumazi Strikers
Rayners Lane (Sunday) v St Josephs (Luton)
Belstone (Sunday) v Burnt Oak Builders Merchants or Manor House
Co-op Green Man v AYFCS
Hammer v Upshire
Barnes Albion v Artois United
Bar Sol Ona v Branksome Railway
Lebeq Tavern Courage v The Windmill

1st Round Results

Sunderland RCA Grangetown Florists 4 Sportsmans 3
Barrington Arms 2 Humbledon Plains Fam 5
Northallerton Police 1 Hetton Lyons 3
Witton Park Rose 4 & Crown  Stockton Rosegale N&SA 2
Thornhill Lees 6 Paddock 2
Seacroft WMC 1 The Warden 2
Millhouse 1 Chapeltown Fforde Grene 3
Fantail 0 Pineapple 3
Alder 2 Hessle Rangers 1
AFC Blackburn Leisure 1 Queens Park 4
Seymour 4 Thornton United 1
Bilsthorpe Celtic 3 Nuthal 1
RHP Sports & Social 3 FC Brimington 0
Kirkby Town 5 v Sileby Athletic 2
Jacksdale MW 7 Thurmaston PWMC 5 AET
Birstall Stamford 2 Sparta Moshdock 4
Hundred Acre 11 Ledbury All Stars 0
Halfway 1 v Sporting Khalsa 6
Upshire 3 Falcons 0
Flamstead End 1 New Salamis 7
Broadfields Laurels 3 Club Lewsey 1
Belstone 3 NLO 3 - Belstone won 4-2 on penalties
AYFCS 4 Dee Road Rangers 4 - AYFCS won 5-4 on penalties
Nirankari 5 Two Touch 6 AET

Hillbarn Athletic v AFC Kumazi Strikers - abandoned on 33 minutes due to heavy rain causing a waterlogged pitch, with the score at 1-1

HT Sports v Home & Bargain - did not play (reason unknown)

Postponements
Lambeth All Stars v Putney Town
Burnt Oak Builders Merchants v Manor House

A BIG thank you to all of you who emailed, text messaged and even called me with the above list of results. A further thank you to those who provided details of your game. I will include all of those in a 1st round review, which (fingers crossed) will appear on this blog site next weekend.

First Round Draw - 20th October - 2:00pm

Sunderland RCA Grangetown Florists v Sportsmans

Newton Aycliffe v Winlaton Commercial

Witton Park Rose & Crown v Stockton Rosegale N&SA

Barrington Arms v Humbledon Plains Farm

Hartlepool Rovers Quoit v Hartlepool Athletic Rovers

Burradon & New Fordley v Kelloe WMC

Northallerton Police v Hetton Lyons
HT Sports v Home & Bargain

Seacroft WMC Athletic v The Warden

JOB v Nicosia

Kirkdale v Netherley Woodlane Legion

West Bowling v Allerton

Campfield v The Old Bank

Alder v Hessle Rangers

Fantail v Pineapple

Seymour v Thornton United

Drum v Canada

Garston v Larkspur

BRNESC v Lobster

Sutton Fields v Pumptec

Millhouse v Chapeltown Fforde Grene

AFC Blackburn Leisure v Queens Park

St John Fisher OB v Mariners

Birstall Stamford v Sparta Moshdock

Gedling Inn v Whitwick Compass

Star & Garter v The New Welfare

Wymeswold v T8s

Kirkby Town v Sileby Athletic

Jacksdale MW v Thurmaston PWMC

RHP Sports & Social v FC Brimington

Bilsthorpe Celtic v Nuthall

Punchbowl v Church Hill

Hundred Acre v Ledbury All Stars

Halfway v Sporting Khalsa

Plough FC Wellington v The Royal Hotel Sutton

Burnt Oak Builders Merchants v Manor House

Upshire v Falcons

Flamstead End v New Salamis

Attero v Apoel

AC Sportsman v Bedfont

Nirankari v Two Touch

Broadfields Laurels v Club Lewsey

Gadeside Rangers v Rayners Lane

Belstone v NLO

AYFCS v Dee Road Rangers

St Josephs (Luton) v North Wembley

Hillbarn Athletic v AFC Kumazi Strikers

Lambeth All Stars v Putney Town

Branksome Railway v Kings Tamerton CA

The Windmill v All Saint

1st Round Draw and Entrant List

The FA have finally published a list of entrants (sadly, it doesn't confirm the teams County FA affiliation or League membership!) and the draw for the first round.

http://www.thefa.com/News/competitions/fa-sunday-cup/2013/sep/season-2013-14-first-round-draw-accepted-clubs-round-dates.aspx

Its disappointing to see that only 115 teams have been accepted in to this season's competition. This is the lowest number since the same amount were accepted back in 2004/05.

Due to this low number, there is no preliminary round for the second season running. The competition will start on 20th October.

I'll update the blog shortly with the full first round draw.

2013/14 Round Dates

First Round - 20th October

Second Round - 17th November

Third Round - 15th December

Fourth Round - 19th January 2014

Fifth Round - 16th February

Semi Final - 16th March

Final - 27th April

Final match report

Oyster Martyrs 4 v Barnes Albion 3

The 49^th FA Sunday Cup final saw Liverpudlian giants Oyster Martyrs in their third final taking on relative newcomers Barnes Albion from the West Middlesex league. Barnes have enjoyed huge success in their domestic competitions over the last five seasons or so and have done tremendously well to reach the final of the Sunday cup in only their second season of entry. Their opponents, however, know the competition inside out, having reached the semi-final stage (or better) in four of the last five seasons.

The meet and greet: Barnes Albion in the red and white line up to face Oyster in the dark blue

I was hoping to add more photos but due to technical problems, I can't, so we'll have to make do with line up.

The first chance of the game came in the 10^th minute when Barnes skipper, Tom Martin, headed a cross over the bar. A minute later, Oyster had their first opportunity to score, but hot shot Leighton McGivern’s shot was well saved at the near post by Richard Priest.

The aerial threat of Barnes Albion was on display again just two minutes later, when another header only just failed to hit the target.

 

A horrendous sliced clearance from Dayo Olufemi fell straight to Leighton McGivern, the one man in the Oyster team that you do not want to gift this kind of chance too! McGivern bore down on goal and rifled home from inside in the penalty area, to give his side the lead on the 20^th minute.
 

Six minutes later, a sloppy clearance from Oyster keeper Jack Mano fell straight to Barnes’ Mark Gallagher, who found himself in a great goal scoring position. However, a superbly timed tackle from Danny McDonaghue, denied Gallagher a shot on goal. There really was no margin for error, as any mistake from McDonaghue would surely have resulted in his dismissal and a penalty for Barnes.

Dayo Olufemi very nearly atoned for his earlier error, when his strike at goal agonisingly crept passed the outside of the far post.
Barnes were finally rewarded for their persistence, when in the 38^th minute, they were awarded a penalty for hand ball. Up stepped Barnes veteran Adam Willis, a man with 120 goals in his 300+ appearances for the side. His assured finish in to the bottom right corner, deservedly levelled the score at 1-1.

For all of Barnes hard work, they actually went in to the half time interval behind, as Leighton McGivern scored in the 45^th minute, to restore Oyster’s advantage.

There was still time for more first half drama though, as Adam Willis came close to scoring again, when his goal bound shot was saved by the legs of Jack Mano!

It was a fired up Barnes Albion who took the field for the second half and within eight minutes of the restart, they turned a 2-1 deficit in to a 3-2 lead!

Once again, Barnes showed how dangerous they are at dead ball situations, when they restored parity through a thumping header from Mark Gallagher in the 49^th minute.

Adam Willis’ elder brother Luke (one of three Willis brothers in the Barnes starting line-up) was the next to profit from a Barnes corner, when he scored from close range to give the West Middlesex league side the lead for the first time.

It was clear to see that if Oyster were to turn the game around and claim the Sunday Cup for a second time, then some of their players had to step up and support McGivern. Dean Astbury’s surging runs from midfield had caught my eye in the semi-final but he had a very quiet first half. This began to change and it was his run from the half way line that lead to Oyster’s equaliser, when his shot was turned past Richard Priest by one of his defenders!

Six minutes later, Dean Astbury’s through ball fed McGivern, who skipped past two Barnes defenders before firing passed Richard Priest to score the best goal of the game and to complete his hat-trick. This goal also secured the Sunday Cup for Oyster, in what was a great advert for Sunday football.

There is no shame in losing to a side like Oyster and Barnes Albion can hold their heads up high. For me, they were the better side but Oyster had the best player on the pitch in Leighton McGivern and once again, his ability and prolific goal scoring was the difference between his side and the opposition.

It’s a shame that such a great game was watched in front of a fairly dismal crowd of just 392 (I’ve seen better attended games in the first round, over the years!). I believe that the final should be played at a neutral venue, as it is fairer to both sides. However, I’m very disappointed to see such a poor turnout (I suspect that this was the lowest ever crowd for the final).

So why was the attendance so low? Well, firstly, Burton is hardly an FA Sunday Cup hot spot, so I can’t imagine too many locals turned out! And, with all due respect, the Pirelli stadium can hardly be mentioned in the same breath as Anfield, Villa Park or the Stadium of Light, which for me, were all fitting venues for the final, so I think the choice of venue was a key factor. From what I understand, Barnes did not want to play at Tranmere because they saw that as giving Oyster an unfair advantage, while Oyster (despite having strong links with Everton, wanted the game to be played at Anfield!).

Oyster Martyrs 4 Barnes Albion 3

Congrats to Oyster Martyrs who lifted the F A Sunday Cup for the second time today at Burton Albion's ground.

Full match report with photos to appear on this blog next Sunday.

Previews and reports

I've decided not to write any more previews for games being played in the latter stages of the competition, as I've noticed that information from my blog has started to appear in a couple of newspaper websites and I don't see why some lazy journalist should take the credit for my work!

One newspaper in particular have sadly taken this a step further and have blatantly ripped off my semi final match report! The report appeared on their website six days after I published it on my blog and the journalist concerned hasn't even bothered to hide the fact, as he has practically copied it word-for-word!! I've sent a letter of complaint to them but I don't expect much of a reply (if any!).

Naturally I am very annoyed at this happening. It's hard enough to find the time to update the blog, while holding down a full time job and being a father to three young children (my spare time is practically non existent). In an effort to combat this problem, I have decided that all match reports from games that I attend will, from now on, appear on the blog at least one week after the game has been played, which should be after newspapers concerned have covered that match, so their bone idle employees can come up with their own interesting facts and stop stealing mine!

Final now to be played at Burton Albion

The FA have announced that the Sunday Cup final will now be played at Burton Albion's ground, following a review of their original decision to stage the final at Tranmere Rovers.

Apparently, both Oyster Martyrs and Barnes Albion have informed the FA that they did not want the final to be played at Tranmere.

The game will still be played in 21st April, with a 2.00pm kick off.

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.

Sunday 24th Feb

A great result for Barnes Albion, as they have beaten defending champions Hetton Lyons by two goals to one.

Many thanks to Spencer Cox who went to the above game for confirming the result, at the final whistle.

I did hope to update the blog before 1.35am but I have only just returned from Wembley, where a rampant Swansea City handed my team Bradford City the mother of all footballing lessons!

South Bank (2006) 1 v HT Sports 3

HT Sports amazing run in the Sunday Cup continued in the Teesside sunshine, where they brushed aside the challenge of Stockton league outfit South Bank, to reach the semi-final, in their debut season in the competition.

HT signalled their attacking intent from the start and should have taken lead after only five minutes of play, when Chris Howarth found himself completely unmarked in the six yard box but to the relief of the home side, his free header hit the cross bar.

HT continued to take the game to their hosts and it came as a surprise when the referee awarded South Bank a penalty in the 17^th minute, for what looked a very debatable foul, on what was a rare foray near the HT goal.

South Bank hot shot Gerard Livingstone confidently dispatched the spot kick and maintained his record of scoring in every round, with his 10^th Sunday Cup goal of the season.

This goal very much came against the run of play but the momentum began to swing in favour of the home side, as lifted by their goal, they finally got in to the game, midway through the first half.

The second half began in similar fashion to the first, with HT enjoying greater possession and looking the more likely of the two sides to score.

HT did restore parity in the 22^nd minute, when a corner was partly cleared to defender Sam Hewitt, who thumped the ball home in to the roof of the net.

HT nearly had the lead three minutes later, only to be denied by a superb point blank save from Graham Willey, who was back in the South Bank goal, after suffering an unlikely injury on their coach trip to the West Midlands in the previous round!

Willey’s reflexes came to his side’s rescue again in the final minute, as he saved well to his left, when he pushed a goal bound shot around the post. This was the last incident of note during the 90 minutes, and the tie shortly entered extra time.

HT took the lead in the first period of extra time, when a free kick was turned in to his own goal by South Bank defender, Paul Griffiths.

A rare moment for me, as I actually capture a goal on film!

Gerard Livingstone thought he had equalised in the second period, only to see his effort disallowed for offside.

HT put the tie to rest with just three minutes on the clock, when Chris Howarth raced through from the half way line to finish well and secure his team a ‘home’ semi-final against one of the favourites to lift the title, 2011 champions Oyster Martyrs.

HT will no doubt be keen to eclipse their Leeds Combination league rivals Chapeltown Fforde Grene, who as Fforde Grene Brazil, played Oyster in the 2009 semi-final at Guiseley, only to lose by the odd goal in five.

Semi Final draw

Ties to be played on 17th March - 2.00pm KO

HT Sports v Oyster Martyrs

Barnes Albion or Hetton Lyons v Upshire

The outstanding quarter final tie between Barnes Albion and Hetton Lyons is due to take place this Sunday (24th Feb) at Hanworth Villa.

The venues for the semi finals are to be confirmed. Although I wouldn't be surprised to see the HT Sports v Oyster game take place at Guiseley, as the previous Leeds team to reach the semi final (Fforde Grene) played Oyster at Guiseley and the FA like to use the same grounds.

Result correction
Yesterday's West Middlesex league derby between Barnes Albion and Bedfont ended in a 0-0 draw but it was Barnes Albion who triumphed in the penalty shoot out (7-6).

17th Feb results

5th Round
South Bank 2006 1 v HT Sports 3 - (I was at this game - match report to follow)
Lebeqs Tavern Courage 2 v Oyster Martyrs 3
Upshire 3 v Comets Sports Club 2

4th Round
Bedfont 0 v Barnes Albion 0 - (Bedfont won 6-5 on penalties) - Bedfont will now host Hetton Lyons in the remaining quarter final tie.

Many thanks to John Treleven for confirming the above results.

Sunday 10th February

The West Middlesex league derby between Barnes Albion and Bedfont has today been postponed for the fourth week running!

Hopefully, this delayed fourth round tie will be played next week. The winner will play host to Hetton Lyons.

Sunday 3rd February

4th round results

HT Sports 2 v RCA Grangetown Florists 0

Hetton Lyons 3 v Allerton 2

Oyster Martyrs 4 v Alder 3

South Bank 2006 3 v Punchbowl 0

Upshire 2 v Rayners Lane 1

Club Lewsey 3 v Lebeqs Tavern Courage 4

Barnes Albion v Bedfont Sunday - postponed

 

5th round draw - 17th Feb

Lebeqs Tavern Courage v Oyster Martyrs

Barnes Albion/Bedfont Sunday v Hetton Lyons

Upshire v Comets Sports Club

South Bank 2006 v HT Sports

 

 

Sunday 27th January

4th round result:
Sporting Khalsa 2 v Comets Sports Club 3

As far as I know, all of the other seven games were postponed. Three games (Oyster Martyrs v Alder, Club Lewsey v Lebeqs Tavern and South Bank v Punchbowl) were all showing on the FA's website as postponed on Friday.

RCA Grangetown Florist's game against HT Sports was cancelled on Saturday. All of these are now scheduled for 3rd February.

Sunday 20th Jan

Unsurprisingly, it would appear that all of today's games have fallen victim to the weather. Three of the scheduled eight ties (Hetton v Alder, Club Lewsey v Lebeqs and South Bank v Punchbowl) had already been rearranged for next Sunday, when I looked on the FA's website on Friday!

T8's 0 v RCA Grangetown Florists 1

In the 29 years that I have been following the Sunday Cup, I've only seen one game in Nottinghamshire, which was the 2000 final between Albion Sports and Prestige Brighams, which was played at Nottingham Forest’s ground.

Clearly, another visit was overdue and this outstanding 3rd round tie gave me the perfect opportunity to do this. The game was played at Rolls Royce Leisure in Hucknall, which is just around the corner from Hucknall Town’s ground, which staged the 2009 semi-final between Scots Grey and Lakeside Athletic.

 

As we travelled down from Yorkshire, we were surprised to see a covering a snow as we entered Nottinghamshire and the pitch itself also had a light dusting of snow. However, the line markings were clearly visible and the ground was surprisingly soft, so the game was not in doubt.

 

After a cagey opening 10 minutes, the home side began to take the game to their Sunderland based opponents and when T8’s number 10 was brought down in the penalty area on 15 minutes, I was surprised to see the referee not award a penalty,  as it looked a certain foul from where I was stood.

Five minutes later, T8’s laid siege to the RCA goal and three consecutive corners lead to two goal line clearances! Despite the intense pressure, the RCA defence stayed resolute as they somehow managed to keep the home side at bay.

 

T8’s continued to apply the pressure and came close to opening the scoring when their number 10 clipped the post on 28 minutes.

T8’s hit the cross bar just before half time but were unable to convert the rebound and, amazingly, we arrived at half time goalless!

The second half was a much more even affair, as T8’s were unable to sustain their first half dominance and RCA came more in to the game.

With extra time growing ever nearer and the game still scoreless with just 10 minutes remaining, an RCA free kick was superbly headed home by Gary Hills to the utter disbelief of the home side and their supporters.

 

With time running out, T8’s tried their best to get back in to the game but just like their earlier efforts, they were unable to breach their opponent’s defence and it was RCA who progress to round 4, where they will travel to West Yorkshire to play HT Sports.

Whilst I’d never seen T8’s play before, I did watch RCA the previous week and they were clearly not the same side who comfortably dispatched Eden Vale. They certainly missed Martin Metcalfe, whose man of the match performance included scoring the opening goal and providing the two others in a 3-0 win.

Results from Sunday 13th January

Both outstanding third round ties were played today, so the FA Sunday Cup is now up to date, which is great news, as the 4th round ties are due to be played next week!

T8's 0 v RCA Grangetown Florists 1 - I was at this game, so a match report will follow shortly.

Upshire 2 v CB Hounslow United 0

4th Round Draw - to be played on Sunday 20th January

HT Sports v RCA Grangetown Florists

Hetton Lyons v Allerton

Oyster Martyrs v Alder

Upshire v Rayners Lane

Club Lewsey v Lebeqs Tavern Courage

Sporting Khalsa v Comets Sports Club

Barnes Albion v Bedfont

South Bank (2006) v Punchbowl

All of the above ties have a scheduled kick off time of 1.00pm, except for Barnes Albion (1.30pm) and South Bank (3.00pm).

RCA Grangetown Florists 3 Eden Vale 0

It was a case of 6th time lucky for the outstanding 2nd round tie between RCA Grangetown Florists of the Sunderland Sunday league and their Merseyside opponents, Eden Vale, from the Ormskirk & District league, which was finally played six weeks later than scheduled!

It was the home side who struck first, when lively winger Martin Metcalfe fired passed the keeper from close range after only 3 minutes of play.

Eden Vale spurned a great opportunity to draw level mid-way through the first half, when a superb strike from outside of the penalty box was parried on to the bar by RCA keeper, Kris Snowball. With the goal at his mercy, Vale's Phil Stancombe headed over the bar.

RCA doubled their advantage just before the interval, when a Metcalfe corner was headed home by defender Phil Hall.

RCA wrapped the game up mid-way through the second half, when they failed to halt a run from man of the match Metcalfe, whose cross from the byline was converted by Richard Jordan to extend their lead to 3-0.

Vale kept going to the end but were unable to penetrate the home defence, so RCA can now look forward to a trip to Nottinghamshire, where they will face T8's for a place in the 4th round.

Sunday 6th January - Results

2nd Round
RCA Grangetown Florists 3 v Eden Vale 0 - match report to follow

3rd Round
Burradon & New Fordley 1 v Oyster Martyrs 3
Allerton 5 v Home & Bargain 3 AET
Hetton Lyons 3 v Northallerton Police 0

Upshire v CB Hounslow United - game abandoned 30 minutes, when an Upshire supporter collapsed pitch side with a suspected heart attack. As he was the Grandfather of two Upshire players, it was agreed that the game would be abandoned.

Let's hope the gentleman concerned makes a full and speedy recovery.

Many thanks to Ian Martin and John Treleven for supplying results.

Sunday 6th January

With dry and mild weather forecast for most places this weekend, the FA Sunday Cup will hopefully be able to catch up on some of the outstanding fixtures, as there are still several 3rd round games and one 2nd round tie to be decided.

Of the five games scheduled for this Sunday, three of them are due to be played in the North East, which is where I will be headed for on Sunday morning. I aim to watch the much delayed 2nd round game between RCA Grangetown Florists and Eden Vale. However, Hetton Lyons are due to play Northallerton Police at nearby Seaham, so I may end up there instead!

Like Eden Vale, Oyster Martyrs are also making the long journey up from Merseyside, as they travel to Morpeth Town to play Burradon & New Fordley.

The remaining games are in Liverpool (Allerton v Home & Bargain at Alder Sports Club) and at CB Hounslow, who entertain Upshire.

HT Sports v Salisbury Athletic
I am reliably informed that this tie is now the subject of an FA review, following some after match shenanigans on 16th December at Brighouse.

Updates
Once again, the computer gremlins have struck, so it looks like a new PC is in order. I'll try and update the blog on Sunday evening with the results but as this will be done via my Blackberry, I can't promise that this will be successful! I may have to do this on Monday at work.