Football: Camden Sunday League Challenge Cup
Published: 18 November, 2010
by STEVE BARNETT
SEVEN thrilling matches produced 36 goals and a nail-biting penalty shoot-out at the weekend as the chase to win our prestigious Camden Sunday League Challenge Cup got under way at Hackney Marshes.
Cup-holders Mostyn capped a magnificent return to action last season following a four-year break when they beat Sir Robert Peel 2-1 in the final to lift the trophy.
And the free-scoring side made their intentions to keep hold of the cup clear on Sunday when they beat Boston Celtics 8-1 to net the biggest win of the opening round.
Among the teams looking to take their crown is Lord Southampton (pictured), who kicked off their campaign with a resounding victory over Dinamo Dorigo. Mark Dawson opened the scoring from close range before Jake Morahan doubled the advantage with a stunning free-kick.
The game was all but made safe when Elvyn Blackwood coolly rounded the Dorigo keeper and slotted the ball home.
With the result already in the bag, striker Alexi Nicoloau took centre stage as he helped himself to a quick-fire hat-trick to wrap up a commanding 6-0 win.
The closest tie of the round saw the Constitution beat River Fleet 3-1 on penalties.
The Con took the lead when Sam O’Donnell slid the ball in from the right wing for Shane Murphy to score from close range.
Fleet battled back in style to take a 3-1 lead, but goals from Billy Evans and Tom O’Neill saw the Constitution pull the scores level at 3-3 to force extra-time.
The Con looked to have found the winner when a beautifully weighted 40-yard pass from Adam May led to substitute Jason Saunders scoring the simplest of chances.
Fleet, however, refused to give up and scored late on to take the game to penalties, which the Constitution managed to win 3-1.
Among the teams that also progressed into the second round were Cobden Athletic, who needed extra-time to beat the Hurricanes 3-2, and Park City Rovers, who stormed to a 4-0 win over Chalk Scratchings.
Kings Hell Cats also qualified after beating Crouch End Rangers 2-1, while Mayville recorded a narrow 1-0 win over Brasenose.
In Division One of the Camden Sunday League, champions Phoenix are now 11 points clear at the top after beating Lord Tredegar 5-0 on Sunday.
Unstoppable striker Anthony Clark scored a hat-trick to take his tally to 26 goals for the season, while captain Michael Pattrick and Paul “Gazza” Butler were also on target for the runaway leaders.