Hetton Lyons exit All England Sunday Cup in extra-time thriller

(County Cup holders 2013/14 – Hetton Lyons)

Lyons downed in twelve-goal thriller

North-East Sunday League giants Hetton Lyons fell short at the Brewery Field this Sunday when they crashed out of the All England Sunday Cup against visiting Leeds outfit, Chapletown Fforte Grene.

Five times winners of the competition, the County Durham side led by two at the interval, and were 3-0 up at one stage of the second half after goals from Connor Winter, Craig Ellison and a Craig Price penalty had the quarter finals within touching distance.

However, a spirited display from the visitors took the game to extra-time and, although the Lyons would net a fourth through a Price free-kick in the added period four further goals from Chapletown put any dreams of another final appearance to bed.

Stuart Gooden, who has been on the management team with the Lyons for a number of years and at the helm for their 2012 success said afterwards: “We have to learn that we need to finish teams off, but will brush ourselves down and carry on.

“We were 3-0 up with around 20 minutes to play and cruising and then just relaxed. Their first goal was a scrappy one which was poked min, and they scored again in their next attack. There was still plenty of chances for us and they went on to level in the fourth minute of stoppage time which was disappointing, frustrating really.”

It was in that extra period things would fall apart for Gooden’s Lyons, conceding four goals in what was a devastating spell for visitors and not helped by the dismissal of Denver Morris for two yellow cards.

“Both the Craig’s, Ellison and Price, had great games, and Morris played really well also,” continued Gooden.

“We just fell apart in extra-time and it was frustrating for Alan (Pearson, the assistant manager) and me. It was though a case of us being rather unlucky but we are still one of four clubs in with chance of winning the League, which is a very tough one, and have a cup quarter final this weekend to look at putting this disappointment behind us in.”

As holders of the County Cup they have the quarter final on Sunday away to Norton George and Dragon. Their exit from the All England Sunday Cup, which they have won four times in the past decade however will spur them on and are still in a more than healthy enough position to complete a regional clean sweep of Durham & District Sunday League championship, and several further cup competitions.