Trooper FC fought back from a goal down to secure the FA Sunday Cup title at the Bet 365 Stadium in Stoke, after goals from Danico Johnson and Simeon Cobourne were enough to inspire the side from the West Midlands, despite Home Bargains striking first through Thomas Owens.
Two of the country’s best Sunday League teams travelled from their respective cities, with Home Bargains coming from Liverpool and Trooper FC travelling from Solihull while FA Chair Debbie Hewitt was also in attendance at the Finals.
And they served up a closely fought and entertaining encounter, with the first effort effort of the afternoon coming from Home Bargains, as Francis Smith’s set piece stung the palms of Tom Allsopp in the 13th minute.
Trooper created a chance of their own when Kyle Rowley headed wide from close range just ten minutes after.
However, Bargains continued their attacking threat as a swift counter-attack created a chance for Steven Tames to get a shot on goal, but Allsopp did well to punch his effort away.
Alex Tomkinson had a huge opportunity to give Trooper the lead, clean through on goal but Germano Mendez did well to deny him one-vs-one.
And just seconds later it was the team from Liverpool who opened the scoring.
A swift counter attack down the left-hand side saw the ball played square into Owens, who stabbed home to send the visiting fans into pandemonium.
But Johnson brought the scores back level on the 60th minute. With his back to goal, the number ten turned and struck the ball low past Mendez.
Shortly after, Cameron Lee scored a looping header for the side from Birmingham, but the flag was raised for offside.
Trooper turned the game around with a fantastic counter-attack goal, as Johnson and Cobourne in combined in the heart of the attack with a quick one-two, which played the number 14 through on goal to dispatched his shot into the bottom corner.What 👏 A 👏 Goal 👏
— England Football (@EnglandFootball) April 28, 2024
An incisive break and @TrooperFC_ have the lead in the #FASundayCup Final! pic.twitter.com/JSPOsU4lX7
The Birmingham side continued to control the game after their second goal and defended as a team in the final minutes to successfully secure their name on the FA Sunday Cup winners’ list and take their medals back to the West Midlands with them.
Home Bargains FC: 1. Germano Mendez, 2 Josh Maguire, 3 Francis Foy, 14 Alex Gofton (C), 15 Lucas Garbe, 6 Joseph Evans, 5 Brendan O’Brien, 7 Francis Smith, 8 Carl Pears, 10 Thomas Owens, 9 Steven Tames
Substitutes: Brendan O’Brien off for Matthew Parker 63’, Steven Tames off for Matthew Robinson 70’, Joseph Evans off for David Kelly
Substitutes not used: Harvey Passant, Alex Noonan, Lucas Wilson, Dean Shatlock.
Goals: Thomas Owens 40’
Trooper FC: 1. Tom Allsopp, 6 Dominic Perkins, 15 Kyle Rowley, 12 Cameron Lee, 5 Kyle Burke, 2 Lewis Hayden, 20 Alex Tomkinson, 3 Ellis Deeney (C), 17 Kory Burke, 10 Danico Johnson, 14 Simeon Cobourne
Substitutes: 82’ Dean Rathbone on for Danico Johnson, Louie O’Connor on for Ellis Deeney (C)
Substitutes not used: Torryn Connolly, Conal Dowling, Trey Braithwaite
Goals: Danico Johnson 60’, Simeon Cobourn 75’
