The prospects for this annual tournament did not look good. George, Toby and Jack were cup tied due to the play, Harry was off ill and Josh had fallen victim to sore knees. That was 5 of my potential 6 a side team so 2nd XI regulars Robbie, Henry and Max were drafted in. We were going along to enjoy ourselves and I had already e-mailed my apologies to the organiser saying we would have to leave before the final to get back for the play. So how then did we win the tournament comprising 8 teams ?

We arrived just in time to play our first game. A rapid warm up and we were on . Before you knew it James, who at break had said he was not feeling too well, had slotted in at the near post. Bazza then made the first of many successful sorties down the left before neatly chipping the prostrate keeper and then whacked in our third in the second half to give us a 3-0 win over Wycliffe B.

We stayed on the pitch to play Wycliffe A and conceded what would be the only goal of our afternoon early in the match. We looked tired and beaten before Alex fired in a shot which Christian managed to turn in at the far post. A couple of games off to rest up and we were on against Tockington knowing that we were already through due to other results. However another George goal early on calmed the nerves before Pepe, in front of his mum over from Spain, sealed a 2-0 win.

Beaudesert had won the other group which meant we played the second team which was St.John's who we knew from 11 a side were a good team. George grabbed an early goal at the near post to set up a bizarre victory. For the remaining 13 minutes we were battered by St.John's who played some super football but who could not score. Max was inspired and lady luck was kindly on our side. The same happened in the other semi as Tockington beat a good Beaudesert side on penalties.

We had made the final against a team we had already comfortably beaten so this was a real chance. The boys grabbed the opportunity as Christian took advantage of a slip on the now muddy pitch to open the scoring. Tockington tried hard but Robbie and Henry were firm at the back, Pepe and Bazza ran well with the ball, James and Alex tackled like demons and Christian held the ball up with intelligence. Victory was ours !

This was a remarkable and surprising success. Luck was certainly on our side but the boys played with guts and organisation all afternoon. Bazza finished with 4 goals, Henry was a rock at the back, Robbie played as the result of a breaktime conversation and battled brilliantly and other results conspired to give us a relatively easy passage to the final. A super way to end a good season.