St. Joseph’s ended a 27-year wait for the FA Sunday Cup crown by defeating Aigburth Arms 3-2 in a dramatic finale that went from stoppage-time heartbreak to jubilation with a last-gasp winner from Ryan Blake.
With the final watched by Luton Town legend Mick Harford at Derby County’s Pride Park, the Luton side came from behind against the Liverpool outfit with goals from Patrick McCaffety and former Hatter Adam Watkins either side of the break.
And they looked to have their hands on the cup until Charlie Briggs handled in the area in the second minute of stoppage time.
Aigburh substitute Lewis Hassan took the spot-kick and though he saw Jamie Head save his initial effort he bundled the ball in at the second attempt to deny St Joe’s at the death and take the game into extra-time.
But it didn’t get that far as, in the sixth-minute of stoppage-time, the Luton side went straight down the other end and Blake, who had provided a determined assist for Watkins’ goal, turned on the afterburners and fired into the bottom corner to spark chaotic scenes of celebration.
The goal ended a long wait to bring the Sunday Cup back to Bedfordshire for the club that last won it in 1996 and since then suffered the latest of four final heartbreaks in 2020.
