Despite being the shortest month of the year, there was plenty of IFA action in February with at least 4 games every weekend, including the long-awaited First Round of the 2022/23 IFA British Cup.
4th February
The first of 4 IFA British Cup First Round ties was played, as Rochdale hosted Livingston GS. Goals from Brett Hardman and Ryan Lockett of Rochdale weren’t enough as Livingston GS advanced after a 2-4 win. Goals from Richie Kay, Angus McGregor and a John Alexander brace sealed Livingston GS’ spot in the Quarter Finals and consequently an away trip to Watford.
There was an 8 goal thriller in the English League as Hatters Fans beat Claret Shoemakers 5-3. Despite goals from Ewan James, Ross Quennell and Phil Smith of the Claret Shoemakers, Hatters Fans edged the game after goals from Laimis Navickas, Ben Williams and a hat-trick from Cameron Swinburn.
In the Scottish League, KaisAyr took the 3 points after a 1-3 win at Queen’s Park, with Marc McKinnon, Stephen Simpson and Daniel Roseblade scoring their 3 goals, whilst Kian Donaghy scored for Queen’s Park.
The other Scottish League fixture saw Real Maroon win 3-0 at home against Glasgow Piraten thanks to 2 goals from Louis Norris and a goal from Sean Pearce.
11th February
The second of 4 IFA British Cup First Round ties was an all-Scottish tie as Real Maroon hosted Fir Park Corner, who were last season’s IFA British Cup winners. It finished 2-2 after 90 minutes, with Gary Mackay and David Knox scoring for Real Maroon, while Deane Brown and Brandon Ferrie were on the scoresheet for Fir Park Corner. As a result, the game had to be decided by a penalty shootout which was edged by the cup holders, who will now host Stirling Albino in the Quarter Finals.
There were 3 other games on this date, with 2 in the English League and 1 in the Scottish League. Across the 3 games, all 6 teams scored at least 2 goals with a total of 33 goals across the 3 games!
In the English League, Rochdale beat Claret Shoemakers 10-2 at home, with goals from Paul Hudson, Mose Davies and Jamie Albison, braces from Kyle Davies and Adam Laws, and a hat-trick from the English League’s top scorer, Jonny Hall. James Ross and James Averill were the goalscorers for Claret Shoemakers.
Shrewsbury Town hosted a depleted We Are Birmingham side in the other English League game, with the hosts winning 8-2 after a double from Alex Taylor and a double hat-trick from Charlie Warren. We Are Birmingham’s Josh Aplin and Nathan Brown got on the scoresheet for the away side.
The one Scottish League game was between Hibernifan and Glasgow Piraten. Despite 4 goals from Glasgow Piraten’s Niall McCamley, Hibernifan won the game 7-4 after a brace from Callum McArthur and goals from Ewan Love, Jack Cameron, Blair Campbell, Scott Sinclair and Kai McCrudden.
18th February
The 2 remaining IFA British Cup First Round ties were played and they were both all-Scottish ties. Two of the top Scottish League sides came face-to-face as Internazioswally hosted KaisAyr. A goal from Craig Agnew and a double from Stephen Simpson wasn’t enough in the end for KaisAyr, as the home side advanced to the Quarter Finals after winning 7-3. Seven players got a goal each for Internazioswally and they were Alex Cummings, Malcolm Mclean, Nathen Liddle, Evan Jones, Grant Harold, Greg Fernie and Sam Proctor. Internazioswally will now host Preston North End of the English League.
The final First Round tie saw Queens Park travell to Alloa Athletic. Gav Innes and Dylan Roberts notched for the away side, however goals from Alloa Athletic’s Liam Black, Ross McAra and Michael Cairns meant that the hosts edged the tie 3-2. Their reward for the win is an away trip to Burton Albion in the Quarter Finals.
There were 2 games in the English League with Manchester United making the short journey to Macclesfield. The away side took the 3 points after a 4-1 win, with Calum Beckett, Josh Armstrong, Si Evans and Rob Curran scoring for Manchester United. Moad Owiad was on the scoresheet for the hosts.
Internet Mariners’ first game of the season was a long away trip to Claret Shoemakers in the English League. Claret Shoemakers’ Brendan Walsh scored a hat-trick for the home team, but it wasn’t enough as the Internet Mariners put 6 past the hosts to win 6-3. Chris Hurton and Luke O’Hara both got a brace while Rowan Woodward and Paul Bass also got on the scoresheet for the visitors.
Current Scottish League champions, Fir Park Corner, hosted Real Maroon in the only Scottish League game to go ahead as Hibernifan vs Livingston GS was postponed. It was a 5-star performance from Fir Park Corner with Craig Keatings, Jake Glancy, Brandon Ferrie, Ross Elliot and Robbie Mclean getting on the scoresheet for the hosts. Robbie Easton got one for Real Maroon as the game finished 5-1 to Fir Park Corner.
25th February
The final weekend of February saw four games take place and they were all in the Scottish League.
KaisAyr got back to winning ways and ended the month at the top of the Scottish League, thanks to a hat-trick from Marc McKinnon and a goal from Gareth Turner which earned KaisAyr a vital 3 points in an away win at Livingston GS. Joni Agini got one for the hosts.
Internazioswally needed a win to keep up the pressure on KaisAyr at the top of the Scottish League and they managed to do so after a 6-0 win at home to Real Maroon. Ryan Mcnee and Malcolm Mclean got a goal each for the hosts, while Scott Forbes and Fraser Fernie both got a brace.
The Scottish League champions, Fir Park Corner, showed their quality after beating Hibernifan 4-0 with goals from Craig Keatings, Ross Elliot, Robbie Mclean and Jack Moore.
A Blaine Prentice brace helped Alloa Athletic win 3-1 away at Glasgow Piraten in the other Scottish League game. Fraser Mcfarlane also got a goal for the visitors and Michael Morrison got on the scoresheet for the hosts.