The Wensum Print Sunday Junior Cup Final

Either Long Stratton FC or FC Steamers will lift the Wensum Print Sunday Junior Cup this season after both reaching the final last month.

Long Stratton’s last defeat in the Sunday Junior Cup came in September 2018 in the first round of the 2018/19 competition, almost three years ago. They were due to play Easton in the final last year before the pandemic resulted in the match not being played. Three successive promotions since their formation have led them to become the Norwich & District Sunday League Division 2 Champions this season, not losing a game in the process. They reached the semi-final thanks to a bye and convincing victories against DCS Rapid and Broadland. Their semi-final encounter was a much tighter affair with Stratton needing a late goal to overcome fellow Division 2 side, Barracks.

Long Stratton’s Manager, Steve Race said: “I’m really looking forward to the Final. It was our mission at the start of the season to get to the Final after what happened last year when we got to the Final but couldn’t play the game. That was obviously a real disappointment, but it sharpened our focus somewhat to try and get back again.”

FC Steamers are newly formed this season and have saved their best performances for the cup. In their first season they are set to finish mid-table in the Norwich & District League Division 4 having won and lost the same amount of games currently. Similarly, to Long Stratton, the Steamers reached the semi-finals convincingly, scoring 21 goals in the process against Hornets, Hethersett Athletic and Sprowston Rovers. However, they required penalties to overcome Eaton Park Corinthians to reach the final after a 1-1 draw. They will be hoping that already beating two Division 2 sides in their cup run will stand them in good stead for the final.

FC Steamers Manager, Fionn Goodwin-Wright spoke about their opponents: “I’m expecting them to be a good solid outfit. They are a really well established Club both on a Saturday and a Sunday. I’ve played against their Saturday team numerous times and have come across quite a few of the players who play for their Sunday team. They have just won Division Two so they are literally the highest ranked team you could face in this competition. We know it is going to be tough, but we are looking forward to the challenge. It’s a cup final so anything can happen, why not?”

• Long Stratton FC v FC Steamers
• theFDC, Bowthorpe
• 06/06/2021
• Kick Off 11:00am
• Ticket Only