The Champions Cup returned for another season on Saturday and with all matches to be concluded on the day rather than two-legged affairs, it promised for an eventful afternoon’s football.
We were delighted to welcome two guest teams into the competition this season; St. John’s Accrington who made such an impression in last season’s All Day Tournament, and Preston City Mission who did likewise in this season’s Tournament.
St. John’s were drawn at home to Quernmore in what proved to be the most closely contested tie of the round. Quernmore, finalists in the Champions Cup last season, made the early running and went in front through James Burr. But in the second half, St. John’s turned it around with goals from player-manager Paul Pountain and a late winner from Robert Healey.
Elsewhere, Longton took on the other invitational team in a local derby as Preston City Mission made the short journey across Preston to join our Champions Cup for the first time. Ultimately, Longton ran out comfortable 10-1 winners but the away side, who were playing a competitive match for the first time together, showed fantastic spirit and deservedly scored through Mihai Stoica in the second half to send dozens of travelling fans into raptures!
Lancaster – the holders – were up against Fulwood who had been in good form in recent weeks but Lancaster proved too strong on the day recording a 6-0 victory with three goals in each half. Top scorer Jonny Sudell was once again in the thick of the action notching a hat-trick.
Away from the glamour of the cup, a single league game took place between Wray and Great Ecc and it proved to be a cracker. Great Ecc had been in fantastic form at both ends of the pitch, recording a number of clean sheets whilst scoring goals for fun, and they kept up their excellent run with a hard-fought win on their travels. It was Wray who had taken the lead after just six minutes through George Whitaker but Great Ecc responded and eventually ran out 5-3 winners with Dan Ball scoring a hat-trick.
SportsReach Champions Cup Results – 1st Round – 5th November
St. John’s Accrington 2-1 Quernmore
Paul Pountain 48, Robert Healey 80 // James Burr 23
Longton 10-1 Preston City Mission
Ayman Fazeli 12, 74 Tom Cobham 20, 46 Andrew Wiles 26, 85 Steve Smith 40, Tom Dearden 50, Danny Stephenson 62, 68 pen // Mihai Stoica 65
Lancaster 6-0 Fulwood
Jonny Sudell 26, 32, 84 Warren Goodley 35, 64 Michael White 74
SportsReach Football League Result – 5th November
Wray 3-5 Great Ecc
George Whitaker 6, 89 Jake Fawcett 80 // Ben Clark 21, 56 Dan Ball 30 pen, 75, 84
One result to add from the following week as I was on holiday…
SportsReach Football League Result – 29th October
Great Ecc 8-0 Loko
Dan Ball 5, 48 Jack Sharples 19 pen, Sam Hogarth 25, own goal 52, Sam Kelsall 55, 65 Adam Moat 80
