Lyons roar into last four

Hetton Lyons CC, FA Sunday Cup winners two years ago, may be looking at the 'This is Anfield' sign again in April after yesterday's comprehensive win at Edgware.

Gavin Cogdon was Lyons' hat-trick hero as the Sunderland team made it into the last four for the second time. The 24-year-old striker has notched more than 30 goals for his Sunday side this season and plays for Sunderland Nissan, currently fourth in the Northern League's Division One, on Saturdays.

Despite the final scoreline, St Andrews played up to the standard they had shown in previous rounds and pushed very hard for a goal early in the second half when they were 2-0 down.

The first few minutes were even, with Aaron McLeish showing skill and pace down the middle for Saints and Cogdon giving early glimpses of his undoubted class at the other end.

Skipper Darren Butler prompted a lot of the home side's attacks from midfield and right-back Densal Davidson's overlapping runs kept the Lyons defence on their toes.

McLeish blasted in three shots that were blocked and then crossed from the right for Danny McGonigle to sweep a shot inches over the bar. Cogdon missed from close in with a shot that soared into gardens behind the goal before home 'keeper Mark Jessop was forced to leave the action after 20 minutes.

His leg injury didn't appear serious, but he was limping. Paul O'Connor, Saints' Assistant Manager who had been first-choice 'keeper for ten years, took over between the posts and was quickly under pressure.

Seven minutes into his tenure Cogdon's swerver from 25 yards sent him the wrong way and ended up in the net. Then, on 38 minutes, the same player beat him to a corner into the near post to head a second.

The Middlesex side battled the visitors hard for the first 15 minutes of the second period, but couldn't grab the goal that would have put them back in contention. Lyons remained solid at the back, with Keith Finch looking unbeatable in goal.

Cogdon went on a weaving run inside the box on 64 minutes and after selling a couple of dummies, found himself with enough space to roll a shot into the far corner for 3-0.

Craig Tompkins, who scored a hat-trick in five minutes in a previous round, was brought on for Saints with 20 minutes to go but couldn't work his magic this time. Steven Capper, who plays for Durham City on Saturdays, took advantage of a defensive slip to take the ball round O'Connor and slot home a fourth on 77 minutes.