FA Sunday Cup final heartbreak for Home Bargains

Trooper FC came from behind to beat Home Bargains 2-1 in the FA Sunday Cup final.

Second-half goals from Danico Johnson and Simeon Cobourne turned the tie on its head at Stoke City’s Bet365 Stadium.

Home Bargains, who play in the Merseyrail Business Houses Premier Division, took the lead in the first half through Thomas Owens. Brendan O’Brien threaded Carl Peers in and the forward unselfishly squared for Owens at the back post.

The opener came moments after a heroic save from Germano Mendes to deny Alex Tomkinson. The Trooper midfield ghosted behind the Home Bargains defence, springing the offside trap, but he was bravely denied.

The first half was cagey but Brian Moogan’s side were the brighter of the two teams with Steven Tames stinging the palms of Tom Allsopp after a free-flowing move.

Bargain had a good chance to double their lead in the second half after their opponents carelessly gave away possession but O’Brien could only curl wide.

The Birmingham club took a stranglehold of the game after that scare. Kory Burke came close but fired over from six yards but his side swung the final in their favour with two goals in 15 minutes.

Trooper pushed and probed and, as the ball fell to Johnson, he turned and fired into the bottom right corner.

Trooper were in front minutes later after a superb solo run from Cobourne, who knocked it past the defender and fired low to hand them the lead.

For Liverpool, it’s the second consecutive year that one of their teams have tasted disappointment in the National Cup final. Aigburth Arms suffered heartache against St Joseph’s (Luton) at Derby County’s Pride Park 12 months ago.