The FA Carlsberg Sunday Cup
Third Round
Sunday 14 December 2008
Winning clubs will receive £300 from The FACanada joined league rivals Oyster Martyrs in the last 16 of The FA Sunday Cup, with a crushing defeat of fellow Liverpool side, BRNESC at Edinburgh Park Dockers Club at the weekend.
Leighton McGiveron was the star of the show, scoring four times whilst John Stannard grabbed a brace and a great strike from Paul Parle wrapped up a comfortable win in front of a decent crowd.
It could have been all so different though, had the visitors taken their chances early on. David Hughes had the best of the opportunities within the opening ten minutes when he was played clean through on the shoulder of the last defender. After advancing to the edge of the penalty area, he struck a shot which had the hosts’ goalkeeper Paul Burke checking his angles as the ball shaved the outside of his left-hand post.
His second opportunity was even better. Closer in to the target, he had time and space, but shot straight at Burke when it seemed easier to score.
But after 22 minutes, they went behind. A great ball over the top set Karl Gornell racing down the left-hand side. His first-time cross found McGiveron, who took it perfectly in his stride, rounded goalkeeper Paul McAvoy and tapped into the unguarded net.
A minute later, it was 2-0. McGiveron tried to capitalise on a loose ball forty yards from goal, but lost his balance. Luckily for him, possession fell to his strike partner John Stannard, who carried the ball into the area and smashed a left-footed shot in at the near post to double Canada’s lead.
BRNESC were shell-shocked and couldn’t believe their misfortune but worse was to come after 26 minutes, when McAvoy mis-hit a clearance on the stick pitch and McGiveron closed him down and robbed him for an easy third.
This gave the home side great confidence and just after the half-hour mark, their tails were up. Parle got forward from left-back to cross for Stannard, who headed in his second and Canada’s fourth.
At the other end, Hughes and McLean were finding Burke in good order and it was frustrating for the BRNESC management and supporters to watch.
Nothing was to change after the half-time interval, as the Canada defence thwarted a couple more attacks from their opponents. Parle added his name to the scoresheet after 55 minutes when he picked up the ball 25 yards from goal and unleashed a great left-footed strike, which arrowed into the top corner for Canada’s fifth goal.
McLean and Hughes again went close and Joe Grice had a free-kick tipped around the post, before McGiveron completed his hat-trick with a set-piece of his own midway through the second half. His side-footed effort around the wall caught McAvoy flat-footed and unable to prevent the sixth.
BRNESC kept pushing on and had another couple of chances, before McGiveron tapped in with four minutes remaining to complete victory by a big margin.
This win gives them a Fourth Round home tie against Witton Park Rose & Crown, who disposed of one of last year’s Quarter-Finalists, Silsden.
