VIDEO: Lyons roar into Final

Hazelhurst 1-2 Hetton Lyons
The FA Carlsberg Sunday Cup
Semi-Final
2pm, Sunday 21 March 2010
Gander Green Lane, Sutton United FC
Winning clubs receive £1000, losers receive £300

Hetton Lyons edged closer to their record third Sunday Cup trophy, and go into this year’s Final as clear favourites after scraping a narrow win over Semi-Final newcomers Hazelhurst. 

Manager Bradley Groves took a tactical gamble that turned out to be a masterstroke as substitute Chris Lawther’s goal sealed their third Final in five years. 

The away side had a host of early chances that went awry, but it was Hazelhurst who opened the scoring just short of the half-hour mark, capitalising from close-range on Hetton’s inability to clear their area. 

The underdogs continued to threaten on the break despite Hetton predictably dominating possession but no-one could have stopped the equaliser.

Chris Emms looked dangerous playing as an advanced midfielder behind the strikers and shortly before the break proved lethal to that affect. He cut in from the right, beating two players, and lashed the ball home, low and hard from 25 yards. 

As the second half wore on the pitch became heavier and heavier but it wasn’t enough to suppress the Lyons authority on the game. Hazelhurst matched them like-for-like and there was little indication as to how the deadlock would be broken. 

Groves sent Lawther up front to as an extra forward and he was rewarded when the substitute raced on to a Lewis Dodds through-ball and shot home the winner to ensure the Lyons will go to Liverpool’s Anfield stadium for the Final.