1

Allerton

1-3

Duke of York

 

McEvatt, 74

 

Dunkley 31, 53
Edgeworth, 63

at Liverpool FC


Northamptonshire side Duke of York won The FA Sunday Cup, in partnership with Carlsberg, for the first time in their history - on the same day as clinching their league title.

Just hours before the final of the nation's top Sunday league competition kicked off at Anfield, the team discovered that they had won the Northampton Sunday Alliance.

Manager Neil Twelftree revealed: "We boarded the coach at lunchtime to make our way to the stadium and just as we pulled out of the hotel car park, we got a phone call to say we had won the league.

"There was an almighty roar on the coach and I think it set us in good stead for the final."

Duke of York settled better on the big stage than local side Allerton and took the lead in the 31st minute with a goal from Russell Dunkley.

The Liverpool & District Sunday League side came back well and missed a chance to go level a minute later. They kept up the pressure throughout the rest of the first half, but were unable to break through Duke of York's solid defence.

Duke of York strengthened their lead early on in the second half with a second goal from Dunkley in the 53rd minute.

Three minutes later, both sides went down to ten men when a scuffle broke out on the pitch leaving Allerton's Andy Green and Duke of York's Dan Veasey heading for an early bath.

Duke of York substitute Paul Edgeworth, who had come on for Jamie Kearns in the 38th minute, took the scoreline to 3-0 in the 63rd minute.

He slotted the ball into the back of the net after his header had hit the post seconds earlier, leaving Allerton goalkeeper David Hewitt sitting dejected in the goal mouth.

The dream return to Anfield for Allerton captain Stuart Quinn, who scored the winner in Liverpool's FA Youth Cup victory in 1996, ended in the 64th minute. 

 He was brought off after suffering a knock to his back earlier in the game and was replaced by Gary McEvatt.

Ten minutes later, McEvatt scored Allerton's consolation goal. The goal proved too little too late and Duke of York held on to keep their two-goal lead intact until the final whistle.

Their jubilant manager said: "It's brilliant - everything has just been brilliant. I couldn't have asked for anything more. The lads were tremendous.

"I told them to go out there and enjoy the day and that there was no pressure on them. They listened really well to my instructions.

"I always felt we were in control of the game and Russell scored two very special goals to set us on our way - he has been our jewel.

"I'm just so pleased. It's the first time we've won The FA Sunday Cup and it's the first time I've won the league as manager. We're going to have one hell of a party!" 

Allerton manager Paul Cross was disappointed his side had failed to keep The FA Sunday Cup in Liverpool with their local league rivals Britannia having won the competition last season.

He said: "We had a few chances in the first half and it could have been a different game if they'd gone in, but I've got no qualms with the lads or the result.

"We were a goal down at half-time and I just told the lads to keep playing the way they were and the goals would come, but unfortunately they didn't. That's the way it went - that's football."

Former England and Liverpool star Phil Neal, who was the chief guest at the final, felt the pressure of playing at Anfield and in front of so many fans proved too much for Allerton. 

Neal watched the final with added interest given his connections with both Northampton, where his career began with Northampton Town, and Liverpool, where he won a batch of honours whilst playing at Anfield.

He said: "There was a lot of pressure on the home side and I think that's where the game was won and lost. When Duke of York went in front it put more pressure on the home team to do well.

Neal watched the final with added interest given his connections with both Northampton, where his career began with Northampton Town, and Liverpool, where he won a batch of honours whilst playing at Anfield.

He said: "There was a lot of pressure on the home side and I think that's where the game was won and lost. When Duke of York went in front it put more pressure on the home team to do well.

"They will say they under performed on the day, but full credit to Duke of York. They were disciplined and more organised in the early part of the game and didn't freeze on what was such a big occasion."

Allerton: Hewitt, McGee (Gick 10), Jones, Jackson (Waring 54), Robinson, Kirkpatrick, Quinn (McEvatt 64), McMullan, Green (sent off 57), Lacken, Roberts
Subs not used: McDiarmid, Wilson

Duke of York: Finlay, Green, Hofford, Chapman, Moore, Veasey (sent off 57), Lamb, Wagstaff (Parker 78), Kearns (Edgeworth 38), Westley, Dunkley (Heath 73)
Subs not used: Jelly, Twelftree

Referee: KK Wright (Huntingdonshire FA)

Attendance: 2,203