History for Hetton

Hetton Lyons made history as they became the first team to win The FA Carlsberg Sunday Cup three times with a 4-2 win over Magnet Tavern at Anfield.

The home of Liverpool FC has played host to many classics down the years and this was a fittingly entertaining game as Hetton striker Michael Rae scored twice to inspire a deserved win for the Durham-based outfit.

The tone was set for an end-to-end game with two goals inside the first ten minutes. Gavin Cogden put Hetton ahead before Josh Sozo equalised for Magnet. Rae then struck early in the second half and then added another goal to give his side a two-goal lead but Mark Coulson pulled a goal back for Magnet with a stunning strike in the 89th minute. As Magnet pushed for an unlikely equaliser, Chris Lawther sealed an historic victory for Bradley Groves’ side.

Hetton’s unprecedented third Sunday Cup Final triumph adds to their formidable pedigree in the competition in recent years. They won the competition in 2006 and 2008, while last year they were knocked out by Scots Grey, the eventual winners. The premier competition in Sunday football, this year’s Final gave the players the chance to emulate some of the world’s most famous names who have played at Anfield.

The game certainly started at an electric pace as the 22 players buzzed around the pitch with adrenaline and snapped into tackles.
The flow of the game was also aided by the attacking attitude of both sides, with Magnet winger Ashley Fuller a constant threat to the tournament favourites.

Magnet were determined to end Hetton’s bid for history, but that always looked a difficult task after Cogden’s goal within moments of the opening whistle. However, Sozo responded almost immediately.

The match barely settled after a frantic opening but spectators were made to wait for the next goal, when Hetton regained the lead early in the second half through Rae’s first of the afternoon. Man-of-the-Match Rae kept his cool to score his second and Hetton’s third soon after.

Magnet were dealt a blow when Fuller was withdrawn early in the second-half due to injury, and their luck turned for the worse as they were forced to play the closing minutes with ten men due to injuries and the use of all three of their substitutions.~

Yet they would not give up, and Coulson struck a rocket into the top corner with his left foot just a minute from time to give Magnet hope.
As they committed men forward, Hetton broke and Chris Lawther neatly tucked away the clinching goal to ease Hetton nerves and ensure their day in history.