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.