Scots Grey manager achieves Sunday Cup dream.
Oyster Martyrs |
3-4 |
Scots Grey |
Latham 35, Rooney 57, Lipson 120 |
a.e.t |
Bignall 16, Staples 90+2, Jeffries 98, 118 |
The FA Sunday Cup, sponsored by Carlsberg
The Final
2pm, Sunday 26 April 2009
Anfield, Liverpool FC
Winning club will receive £2,000 from The FA
Click here to watch highlights of The Final
Scots Grey manager Steve Osborne said his side needed little encouragement to get focused for their FA Carlsberg Sunday Cup Final clash, after their opposition, Oyster Martyrs, gained considerable media coverage in the build-up to the game.
All the papers, even Sky News, had all been mentioning about the Rooneys playing,” said Osborne after his side had triumphed 4-3 at Anfield. “We got one mention in The Mirror in a two page spread, one line saying ‘they’re playing Scots Grey from Nottingham’. We didn’t need any preparation after that.”
Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney – whose brother, cousin and uncle are all involved with Oyster – was in the stands at the match and would have been disappointed to see the Croxteth outfit miss out on lifting the Sunday Cup having been 2-1 ahead with only minutes of regulation time remaining.
However, Scots Grey’s Peter Staples drew his side level in the dying seconds of the game to force the tie into extra-time.
“They got the goal for a 2-1 lead and it was more or less going to be all over because they were still pulling us a bit all over the park,” admitted Osborne.
“But I think we were battling and just about on top and deserved the late, very late, equaliser. He [Staples] told us he’d dreamed he was going to score the winner deep into injury time. It actually wasn’t the winner, it was the equaliser but he’d told us it had come from above. But it was a brilliant header.”
The late equaliser took the wind out of Oyster’s sails, while the Nottingham side seemed to grow in confidence. And when Phil Bignall was awarded a penalty halfway through the first period of extra-time, Allan Jeffries stepped up to put Scots back in front.
“It was pretty close. Calves were tight, legs were tight, everyone was a bit tired… but it was a great team performance,” said Jeffries, who went on to score a second with only two minutes of extra-time to play and give his side a two-goal cushion.
“We’ve been trying this for four years. We got to the Quarter Final and got knocked out by The View, but we’ve come on strong and won it.
It’s amazing [in the changing room]. It’s been great support with the fans as well with the amount that have travelled down.”
Despite a third goal from Oyster in the closing moments, Scots Grey held on for victory.
“I think we deserved to win,” said Osborne. “They [Oyster] played some good football. They’re young lads and a lot faster and fitter than us and we knew they were going to be a good side.
“They’re also a great bunch of lads. I run a boxing club and Richie Rooney runs a boxing club. We’re very similar blokes really, football and boxing mad. We’d probably be very close friends if it wasn’t for this match between us!
“I’ve wanted this Cup for four years and it means so much to the lads. They’ve been a credit and the local papers are going to be able to write a bit more about us now.”