Sunday best

The opening round of The FA Sunday Cup may still be a few weeks away, but for some there was still the small matter of making it through the final preliminary stage.

Hundreds of teams from across the country are going head-to-head to land a final place at the home of Liverpool FC and play on the hallowed Anfield Turf.

Last season saw Coundon Conservative thrash Lebecq Tavern 5-0 in the final at Anfield, the Durham side running riot to seal the trophy in their first foray into the competition.

And while Coundon will be fighting to regain their trophy this season, there’s a few other sides that might have a say on the outcome of this year’s title.

St Josephs, who won the trophy in 1995 and 1996, will be confident of taking the title for the third time after a convincing 3-1 win away at CB Hounslow United.

The Luton based outfit, who will play Richfield Rovers in the next round, have made the final five times with their last appearance coming in 2006 where they were beaten 5-3 by Hetton Lyons.

Britannia, who won the competition in 2002, face a derby clash with fellow Liverpool outfit Penny Lane after cruising through their Preliminary Round clash.

Britannia, whose last taste of glory came five years ago in the 2002 final at Villa Park, beat MS Irlam 2-0 to underline their credentials as title challengers.

London Maccabi Lions will not be making the trip to Anfield after suffering a 3-1 home defeat by AC Sportsman.

The Arkley based side, which retains an all-Jewish play staff, had a number of stars from the Great Britain squad which recently competed in the Maccabiah Games (Jewish Olympics) in Rome.

But the visitors were too strong, easing into the first round proper to set-up a home clash with Belstone.

Liverpool outfit Penny Lane progressed to the first round of the competition without even having to kick a ball in anger after opponents AFC Pudsey withdrew from the competition.

Elsewhere, GL Sports also made it through after their match against with Reading Irish failed to materialise after the visitors also withdrew from clash.

Wainscott Arrows face a trip to Nicholas Wybacks in the first round of the competition after their preliminary round opponents, Rettendon AFC withdrew from the fixture.

Wybacks, who play in the Basildon and District Sunday League, will be hoping to make home advantage count when the two sides meet on October 14.