Sunday 19th January

Games off
Witton Park Rose & Crown v Oyster Martyrs
Allerton v Whitwick Compass
AYFCS v Plough Wellington
 
Lebeqs Tavern Courage v Upshire to be played next Sunday
 
Game on
Thornhill Lees v Chapeltown Fforde Grene (as confirmed by the Thornhill secretary)

3rd Round Review

There is only one place to start a review of the third round results;

Allerton 1 Hetton Lyons CC 0

Allerton gained revenge for last season’s fourth round defeat to Sunday Cup legends Hetton Lyons, as they produced a shock result in Liverpool.

This is Hetton Lyons twelfth season in the Sunday Cup and despite lifting the cup three times at Anfield, five of their eight defeats have come on Merseyside, so Hetton know that they have to be at their very best if they are to win in Liverpool.

Hetton dominated the game in terms of possession but had little in terms of a cutting edge up front.  They rarely troubled the Allerton keeper, who was only called in to action on just a couple of occasions. One of those was a free kick that he spilled in the first half with the Hetton forwards guilty of not following up, much to the annoyance of their manager.

The winning goal was scored in the 77^th minute, when on a rare Allerton attack, a cross from the right was guided home with a neat glancing header by Connor McCarthy.

Many thanks to Andy Gilman for this report.

Upshire 1 Barnes Albion 0

Revenge was also sweet for Upshire, as they halted last season’s runners up Barnes Albion challenge, in what was a repeat of last season’s semi-final.

Upshire got off to a dream start when Mark Daveney played in Jason Hallett, who finished with aplomb with only 30 seconds on the clock!

Upshire missed several half chances to extend their lead before the interval, but then had to defend strongly as Albion piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser, which looked likely until Jason Hallett broke free only to be pulled back by a defender.

The referee deemed this to be worthy of a red card and reduced Barnes to ten men. Their task became even harder when another Barnes player was dismissed for a second yellow. Upshire squandered a number of opportunities to put the result beyond doubt but they held on for victory.

HT Sports 1 Oyster Martyrs 2

It was a great day for the holders, as they secured safe passage in to the last 16, whilst two of their big rivals (Hetton Lyons and Barnes Albion) both crashed out.

HT reached the semi-final in their debut season, where they lost to Oyster at Guiseley, so they knew what to expect. HT would have fancied their chances, especially when they found out that Oyster’s talismanic striker Leighton McGivern was not playing.

There was nothing to choose between the sides, until the 40^th minute when Oyster drew first blood through Franny Smith. HT were level ten minutes in to the second half, when Mick Mills scored and they did their best to press for another goal. Oyster scored again in the 85^th minute when defender Tony Rendell capped a fine game with the winning goal. A mammoth nine minutes of stoppage time added to the drama of the late goal but Oyster held firm and proved that they are still a force to be reckoned with, even without their best player.

Thornhill Lees 6 Hartlepool Athletic Rovers 0

Dewsbury based Thornhill Lees are enjoying life back in the Sunday Cup after a three season absence, as they scored six times for the third game running!

Lees have been a big name in West Yorkshire Sunday football for the best part of 30 years. Twice winners of the West Riding County Sunday Cup, they have won numerous trophies in the Heavy Woollen Gate league and they first entered the Sunday Cup in 2008. They reached the third round after they battled through two close away ties and were rewarded with a home game against holders Hetton Lyons. Two postponements due to bad weather lead to a daunting trip to Spennymoor, where Lees were dismantled 8-1.

They have surpassed their previous best and their expectations this season, with three very impressive wins. I was at their first round game, when they turned around a 2-0 deficit in to a 6-2 victory against 2011 finalists Paddock.

This was followed up with another great 6-2 win over The Warden, another Liverpool based opponent.

Hartlepool Athletic Rovers also scored six in their second round game, when they beat Bolton Woods from Bradford.

There was no sign of any goal fest in the first half, as it was scoreless until the 39^th minute, when Lee Bennett opened the scoring for Lees. A Joel Clegg penalty made it 2-0 and Aidan Schofield put Lees well in control when he made it 3-0 on the hour mark.

A brace from James Wilson and a second from Clegg doubled the score-line and made it 18 goals in three games and set up another home clash, this time against Leeds based Chapeltown Fforde Grene, who ended the interest of Bradford’s Buttershaw White Star, courtesy of goals from Dempsey Smith and Craig Maynard.

Star & Garter 1 Hundred Acre 1 (Hundred Acre won 4-2 on penalties)

Debutants Star & Garter of the Leicester Alliance made a bright start in their game against Birmingham Festival outfit Hundred Acre, as they took an early lead. Richard Gregory went close for Acre and Cameron Stuart shot over when he should have scored, as Star clung on to their lead.

Stuart did get Acre level with a tap-in following some good work from Gregory. Both sides had their chances to score the winner, in what was a great advert for the competition.

Star hit the bar and Gregory missed a chance to send Acre into the next round when through on goal.

An additional 30 minutes of extra time was unable to separate the two sides and it was Acre keeper John Green who proved to be the shoot-out hero, saving a crucial penalty to put his side through.

Jamie Nugent, Stuart, David Franklin and Gregory were Acre's successful penalty takers.

Branksome Railway 4 AFC Kumazi Strikers 2

Another entertaining game saw Branksome Railway become the first Bournemouth Sunday league side to reach the last 16 since Bournemouth Electric in 2006 as they beat London based AFC Kumazi Strikers from the Metropolitan Sunday League.

Sean Gallagher was the man for Railway, as he scored all four of their goals! The first was scored inside ten minutes, when he pounced after the Kumazi keeper dropped a through ball. Gallagher’s second was a penalty on 20 minutes.

The visitors, who represent London's Ghanaian community, pulled a goal back with a shot from Gerald Akosa before Gallagher completed his hat-trick. It was 3-2 at half-time, as a Kofi Appiah thunderbolt from 30 yards out went in via a deflection.

Early in the second half, Gallagher scored his fourth goal and his reward was to be substituted straight after! Fortunately for the home side, the two goal cushion was enough. They should have increased their lead when awarded a penalty but without their star man on the field to take it the spot kick was saved.

Many thanks to Michael Wells for this match report

2nd Round Review

For me, the most impressive second round result was the 5-0 demolition of 2012 runners up Canada, by holders Oyster Martyrs. Being based in Yorkshire, I tend to start a review with the Northern based sides, as these are the teams I watch and know the most about.

However, for a change, I have decided to focus on the South first, with the two Aylesbury Combination v North Home Counties clashes up first.

Two Touch 5 AC Sportsman 1

Two Touch were formally known as Britannia United and this is their fifth season in the competition. Their best season came in 2010/11, when they made the last 16.

AC Sportsman are Sunday Cup veterans, with over 10 years’ experience, although it did take them eight attempts to reach the second round!

Two Touch started the brighter playing some great football and took the lead after ten minutes through Shayne Almond.  AC were back on terms ten minutes later but that was as good as it got for them, as goals from Aston Goss (a recent signing for Southern league side Aylesbury FC) Kieron Schmidt and a Lynton Goss penalty made it 4-1 at half time.

Aston Goss

A three goal half time advantage is usually enough to secure victory in most games but after coming back from the same score line in the last round, Two Touch knew they could not afford to switch off and they continued to play at the same high level as they did in the first half.

They had to wait a little longer to add to the score line, however, as the fifth and final goal was scored on 75 minutes, when Aston Goss completed a brace of goals.

Co-op Green Man 1 v AYFCS 4 (AET)
Debutants AYFCS were taken to extra time for the second game running. Unlike their first round victory over Dee Road Rangers, penalties were not required.  

AYFCS fell behind in the early stages as Co-op's tricky front pair combined to set up an oncoming midfielder, who placed the ball in the top corner.

Nick Gurney forced an excellent save from the home keeper before a marauding run from Michael Ainger saw him slide the ball across for Luke Norris to restore parity.

AYFCS were indebted to Lewis Stevens, who made a string of five saves throughout the second half, to keep the home team at bay. Michael Ainger had a bullet header cleared off the line and Sean Coles nearly sneaked the ball in at the near post towards the end of the 90 minutes but despite their best efforts, neither side was able to find a winner in normal time.

AYFCS made a dream start in the first period of extra time after Sean Coles' cross was handled and the referee awarded a penalty. Spot kick specialist Luke Norris made no mistake sending the keeper the wrong way.

With Co-op sending more men forward in search of an equaliser, Norris' deflected cross caused problems for the Co-op keeper, who could only palm the ball down to Zack Ewers who finished with aplomb.

Things went from bad to worse for Co-op as they were then reduced to 10 men, following a dismissal for foul and abusive language.  Norris was able to complete a brilliant hat trick with a 30 yard thunderbolt into the top corner.

This game was much closer than the final score of 1-4 would suggest. The AYFCS man of the match award went to the keeper, Lewis Stevens, whose second half display contributed as much to the win as Luke Norris’ hat-trick.

New Salamis 2 Broadfield Laurels 0 (AET)
Another game requiring extra time, was this encounter between Kopa league outfit New Salamis and Broadfield Laurels, of the Harrow Sunday Challenge League. This was a close game, with both sides having their chances to win the game but with no goals in normal time, an extra 30 minutes play was required.

The Salamis took the lead on five minutes, courtesy of an own goal. They secured the win when a Deniz Mehmet screamer flew straight in to the top corner in the second period of extra time.

Hammer 0 Upshire 5
Jason Hallett fired Essex based Upshire ahead after 10 minutes and the same player then headed home a second minutes later.
 
Hammer were then awarded a penalty but Upshire’s Joe Taylor saved the spot-kick and then blocked the follow-up. He then turned provider as his route-one clearance found Hallett to complete his hat-trick before half-time!

An own goal and another Hallett goal completed the scoring and a miserable day for South West Herts league outfit Hammer.

Upshire can expect a harder tie in round three, as they have been drawn at home to Barnes Albion in a repeat of last year’s semi-final.

Rayners Lane 1 St Josephs (Luton) 0

Things got off to a bad start for Sunday Cup legends St Josephs before the game had even kicked off! When they entered the pitch for their pre-match warm up, their players were wearing the exact same strip (yellow shirts, green shorts and socks) as their hosts! An alternative blue kit was provided and the game kicked off.

After 18 minutes Rayners Lane forced a corner that was delivered to the back post by Nick Barrs. His delivery, swung in at pace, was met at the far post by Dan Church. The resulting header was somehow blocked at the foot of the St Joseph left hand post and kicked away to safety.

Lane forced another corner five minutes later and this time the ball was driven in to the near post by Ryan Penhale. Again it was met by Church, but his header was blocked in the middle of the goal. Despite a desperate attempt to kick the ball clear, the ball was bundled into the net by Andy Forbes who was quickest to react.

Lane continued to press in the second half but could not add a second goal. Unfortunately, midway through the second half, a St Joseph player suffered a serious injury off the ball. As he planted his foot into the ground, he twisted his knee resulting in the game being stopped. The player was stretchered off and an ambulance called, before play could continue, which it did, with no further incidents of note or goals.

Church Hill 0 Star & Garter 3

Star & Garter of the Leicester Alliance cruised into the third round with a comfortable victory against debutants Church Hill of the Redditch & South Warwickshire league.

Jim Mee put Star ahead after seven minutes when he latched on to a fine flick by Danny Spencer.

Mee then doubled Star's lead right on half-time when he picked the ball up from the edge of the area to once again finish well. Kieran Linnett sealed the win for the visitors on 77 minutes, scoring with an excellent curling effort from 25 yards.

Canada 0 Oyster Martyrs 5

One of the ties of the round was emphatically won by the holders Oyster Martyrs, as they brushed aside their Liverpool & District league rivals Canada at Burscough FC.

For once, the mercurial talent that is Leighton McGivern was outshone in the goal scoring stakes by Dean Astbury, whose stunning first half hat-trick set up this impressive win. Astbury was scoring goals for fun for Waterloo Dock last season in the Liverpool County league. He has now stepped up four levels of the non-league football pyramid and is the top scorer for Northern Premier league table toppers Skelmersdale United with 14 goals.

McGivern still managed to bag a pair as he completed the scoring and set up a repeat of last season’s semi-final, as Oyster once again travel to Leeds to meet HT Sports.

Hartlepool Lion Hillcarter 0 Pineapple 3

Pineapple were indebted to goals from Carl Clarke, James Kelly and Rob Welsh as they made the trip north from Liverpool to ease past previous winners Hartlepool Lion. Their reward was a home tie against another ex-champ from the North East, Humbledon Plains Farm from Sunderland.

Buttershaw White Star 3 Nicosia 1

Another big name to bite the dust were two time winners Nicosia, who went out to Bradford side Buttershaw White Star at Manningham Mills.

If it had not been for a superb display by the Nic’s goalkeeper David Potter, Buttershaw would have been well in front by the interval. Even when Potter was finally beaten, a last-gasp clearance off the line by defender Stephen McCluskie kept the scores level.

The Nic’s did look dangerous on the break but a cool display of handling by Buttershaw keeper Mark Bowers kept them at bay. Eventually it fell to Steve Hollingsworth to tip the balance in favour of White Star, first with a powerful header after 50 minutes and then by adding his second in the 70th.

A third goal by Ben Kendall made sure of the outcome for White Star, who could even afford to miss a penalty. Nicosia did pull a goal back in the closing stages through Graham McCormack but it was never going to affect the outcome.

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/