ST JOE’S PUT ON THEIR SUNDAY BEST FOR GLORY
ST JOSEPH’S (Luton) won The FA Sunday Cup for the third time in their history with a 3-2 victory over Liverpool’s Aigburth Arms in a dramatic Final at Derby County’s Pride Park.
Ryan Blake scored the winner when extra-time looked likely with Luton Town icon Mick Harford a keen onlooker among the 1,000 plus crowd.
The Merseyside outfit took an early lead when defender Stephen Hoy scored from close range when St Joe’s failed to clear a free kick.
It was level at the break after midfielder Patrick McCafferty lashed home when he found himself unmarked inside the penalty area.
St Joe’s then took control and duly went ahead with nearly an hour on the clock with Adam Watkins finishing well after Ryan Blake’s run down the right flank had opened up Aigburth’s rear-guard.
In time added on amazingly Aigburth rallied and drew level when substitute Lewis Hassan got the ball over the line after his initial penalty had been saved.
St Joe’s then went from despair to ecstasy when almost from the restart Blake pulled away from his markers and found the back of the net.
Aigburth’s momentary loss of concentration so costly.
St Joe’s manager Stephen McDaid told The NLP: “At the whistle my first feeling was one of relief, having lost in the final two years ago, it’s something that I’ve carried around with me, it was hard to get away from at times.
“It was such a huge relief that I fell to the floor, my Mum in the stand thought I’d collapsed!
“Being that we’d gone behind early on it did give us time to keep back into the game. It was the kick up the backside we needed and we made a few tweaks to stop us getting over run in the midfield.
“Then when they equalised so late on, teams often in that situation go on and win, they have the momentum, it was a punch to the gut, but I’d seen in previous rounds that my team had guts and determination.
“That was an insane roller-coaster of a match.”