F.A. Sunday Cup

3rd Round

Sunday 13th February 2022

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.07

Grand Athletic 1 Baiteze 3, attendance 83

38’ 1-0 (pen)

58’ 1-1

76’ 1-2

90’+ 4, 1-3

@ The Griffin Sports Club

12 Dulwich Village

Dulwich Village

London

SE21 7AL

No Admission

Programme, free, 4 pages.

Today’s match pitted South London against East London. Grand Athletic are champions of the Metropolitan League, unbeaten in all competitions this season, as well as being current holders of the London Sunday Challenge Cup. According to the programme, Baiteze are the current Essex Corinthian League champions, having been unbeaten during the 2021/22 season, but according to the Corinthian League tables, they were only third in the table when Covid-19 brought the season to a halt. They were indeed unbeaten, but had only played 5 games!

The match was certainly keenly contested, but neither side looked to have much idea when it came to the final third of the pitch. It was an attritional midfield battle, not helped by constant rain throughout. We looked to be heading for a goalless first half, until Grand Athletic were awarded a penalty, which was duly dispatched, seven minutes before the break.

The second half saw Baiteze level the scores just before the hour mark, sparking the first pitch invasion of the afternoon, as substitutes, coaches/hangers on and spectators (they are one of these YouTube social media type clubs) ran on to celebrate. The visitors went in front with fourteen minutes left, when a long range shot was pushed away, but fell perfectly for the striker following in. By the time the third goal was nodded in from close range, deep into stoppage time, Grand Athletic looked to have already accepted they were about to suffer their first defeat of the season. There was still time for Baiteze to have a man sent off, picking up a second yellow card following the aftermath of the goal celebrations.