Rae brace seals third triumph

TWO goals from Micky Rae in the space of five minutes deservedly earned Hetton Lyons the FA Sunday Cup for a record third time at Anfield yesterday.

Hetton had their work cut out against Boston Magnet Tavern, but their pace gave them a vital edge throughout the game and Rae’s quick-fire double put them in control against a good Boston side.

Manager/chairman Brad Groves, who has seen Hetton win 70 trophies under his charge, said: “I thought Boston were the best team we’ve ever played in this competition.

They really made us work hard, especially in the first half. But in the second half, we passed the ball around a lot better, we created chance after chance, and were phenomenal.”

Lyons took the lead after four minutes, when Gavin Cogdon won the ball on the right near the corner flag, ran along the byline, and somehow managed to squeeze the ball between keeper Rob Murray and his near post.

But if Lyons thought they were going to run away with the game, then they were mistaken.

Boston’s Westley Lewis found winger Ashley Fuller in the box and he pulled the ball back for Josh Sozzo to score.

The pace of the Lyons caused constant problems for the Boston defence, with Craig Ruddy particularly dangerous.

On one occasion he drifted into the box, drew the defence and set up Anthony Peacock, whose shot on the turn was deflected wide.

Lyons kept coming but Boston weathered the storm, and nearly took the lead on 41 minutes when Miles Hunter ran into the box from the right, and Keith Finch did well to save on to the post.

Former Darlington player Peacock was more of an influence in the second half, and nearly restored Hetton’s lead just after the break by Murray, who stopped him at point blank range.

Hetton kept probing, and they regained the lead on 54 minutes when Steve Capper found Rae with an outswinging corner from the right, and the striker headed over Murray from six yards. And Rae was on hand again five minutes later, when Cogdon wriggled away from the defence just inside the area, had his shot parried by the keeper, and Rae bundled the ball home.

Boston scored the goal of the game late on – a blistering left foot shot into the top corner in front of the Kop. But any Hetton worries were easily dispelled when Chris Lawther broke clear of the defence to score into the bottom corner.

Hetton: Finch, Griffiths, Mason, Dodds, Ryan, Capper, Ruddy (Smith 75), Moore, Cogdon (Byrne 86), Peacock, Rae (Lawther 75). Subs not used: Ainsley, Bishop.