Barnes Albion 3-4 Oyster Martyrs
The FA Carlsberg Sunday Cup
The Final
2pm, Sunday 21 April 2013
Pirelli Stadium, Burton Albion FC
by Craig Martin
Oyster Martyrs lifted The FA Carlsberg Sunday Cup for the second time in three years as they edged a 4-3 victory over Barnes Albion thanks to three goals from Leighton McGivern.
A fantastic individual performance by McGivern saw him score an impressive hat-trick and ensured Oyster Martyrs came away victorious from a seven-goal thriller in which neither team was ever more than one goal in front.
Oyster Martyrs of Liverpool lifted The Cup two years ago and were appearing in The Final for the third time - while their Middlesex opponents Barnes Albion were making their very first appearance at this stage.
Albion had the first real chance of the game in the eighth minute when Denver Morris cut in from the right wing before unleashing a powerful effort on goal. The shot was, however, deflected behind for a corner.
Oyster Martyrs broke the deadlock in the 21st minute when McGivern pounced on a mistake from the Barnes defence. The former Rochdale striker was gifted the ball 18 yards out and he made no mistake in turning and firing low into the back of the net.Barnes Albion had a good chance to pull level in the 34th minute when Dayo Olufemi burst down the left wing before cutting in and releasing a shot but his low effort fizzed just wide of the upright.It was all level in the 39th minute when Adam Willis converted from the spot into the bottom right of the goal. The referee awarded the penalty after Luke Willis’s shot was handled in the area.
Oyster Martyrs restored their lead on the stroke of half-time when McGivern picked up the ball on the edge of the area before firing to Priest’s left to double his tally for the afternoon.
The lead didn’t last long, however, as it was level again just five minutes after the restart. Mark Gallagher timed his move perfectly as he rose to head past the 'keeper from close range following a corner.
Just four minutes later, Barnes Albion netted again to take the lead for the first time in the game. Oyster Martyrs were undone again by a corner as Luke Willis was left free to nod in at the front post to make it 3-2.
In a match that see-sawed one way and then the next, the scores were level once again in the 64th minute. Dean Astbury brought the ball down on the edge of the area before turning and shooting, his effort taking a heavy deflection from a Barnes Albion defender on its way over the line.
McGivern completed his hat-trick five minutes later to put Oyster back in the driving seat. The experienced striker did fantastically to skip past two players with ease before blasting his effort in from just inside the area.
Substitute Mitchal Gough went close to grabbing an equaliser for Barnes Albion with five minutes left to play when his long-range shot drifted just inches wide of the post.
Barnes Albion dug deep in an attempt to take the tie to extra-time but it wasn’t to be as Oyster Martyrs hung on to get their hands on the silverware.
Barnes Albion
Priest, J. Willis, Crane, Morris, Martin, Dyatt, A. Willis, Olufemi (Nicholls 84), Buckle (Gough 67), Gallagher (Mendy 63), L. Willis.
Substitutes not used J. Willis, Vincent.
Oyster Martyrs
Mano, Jones, Agger, McDonaghue, Latham, Astbury, Moores, Porter (G. Smith 57), Rooney, McGivern, Rimmer (Forshaw 76).
Substitutes not used Ward, S. Smith, Rendell.
Referee Graham Scott
Attendance 392
