Hetton Lyons 5-3 St. Joseph's

The FA Sunday Cup in partnership with Carlsberg
The Final
3pm, Sunday 30 April 2006
Liverpool FC
The winning club receives £1,200



Durham and District Sunday League side Hetton Lyons came close to running up a cricket score in the final of The FA Sunday Cup at Anfield but thanks to a stubborn late surge .

Leading 4-1 against fancied opponents St Joseph's (Luton) there was still 30 minutes of the match left when midfielder Stuart Brightwell rifled in to put the match way beyond the reach of their opponents.

That St Joseph's were able to stem the tide and strike back twice in the last quarter was a testament to their own skill and remarkable courage.

With 26 goals in six outings before the final, it wasn't entirely unexpected that Hetton Lyons would become the first side to score five times in a one-off Sunday Cup final.

And St Joseph's contribution, pulling the final score back to a respectable 5-3 ensured this blood-and-thunder contest was the highest scoring final in the competition's 42-year history.

"They were simply outstanding," said a generous St Joseph's manager Mick Conneely, who had won the title twice as a player in the 1990's.

"No team has ever done that to St Joseph's in all my time at the club. What can you say? They were absolutely brilliant."

Conneely clearly felt that despite the defeat, his side had played their part in a special game that went way above expectation. "We stayed with them for half an hour and then they blew us away," he said.

"But I was immensely proud of the way we fought back to score twice near the end. Hetton kept the ball down and moved it around superbly. And when we had it, they put us under enormous pressure. They were hunting us down in threes. It was frightening at times.

"I can't be despondent about being beaten by the better team in a cracking game at one of the most fantastic grounds in the world."

Hetton's manager Bradley Groves said that the final scoreline might not have been a reflection of his side's dominance but that St Joseph¹s had deserved reward for showing enormous spirit with their late surge.

"It takes two sides to make a game like this and it was a classic. Everyone who participated knew they had been involved in something very special".

It¹s not the end of the season for Groves who, with his side, is on target to win a staggering six competitions. Last season Hetton Lyons were unbeaten in the league, dropping just four points and won three competitions in all.

"Our goal, is to win both the Cup competitions outstanding and to finish the season unbeaten again in the league."

Brightwell was Carlsberg's Man-of-the Match for a thrilling hat-trick scored in a 25 minute period either side of half time.

Also on the scoresheet were Gary Pearson who bagged the opener in the 13th minute and Adam Johnston, who belted in a 30 yard special soon after the break. 

Tommy Hayes equalised Pearson's early strike in the 15th minute and then substitute Tony Fontanelle and Hitchin striker Tommy Hayes spared Luton's blushes late on.