The
league table at the halfway stage in Group C was
showing a very close group with no teams winning
by more than the odd goal. The next game in Group
C continued along this theme as Feltham Garrison
and Hebden Bridge fought out a tough draw. Goalkeepers
and defences were both on top and neither attack
could break through as the game ended in stalemate,
0-0. The draw would keep Hebden Bridge top and
meant that Feltham Garrison had doubled their
points tally. They would need to kick on in the
final game to make the Cup or at least secure
a place in the Plate.
Game
7 was an all Portuguese encounter and saw the
biggest win of the group so far. Moss Deb FC had
started brightly winning their opening game but
tasting defeat in their second. For Montenegro
FC it was the reverse and it must have been the
momentum going into this game that paid dividends
as they rattled in 3 goals against their compatriots
through Renato Alexandre Costa Sousa, Joao Paulo
David Martins and Luis Filipe Madeira Dos Reis.
Felino Foustino scored his first of the tournament
for Moss Deb FC but it was only to be a consolation
as they went down 1-3.
Hebden
Bridge would then meet Jim Belch FC in a top v
bottom clash so you could be forgiven for thinking
this would be one-way traffic. Hebden Bridge,
safe in the knowledge they were already guaranteed
a Cup place, were looking to wrap up the Group
C title whereas Jim Belch were fighting for a
place in the Plate. Al Dickenson scored his second
of the tournament to surprise the league leaders.
Adam Gobbett's goal ensured honours would finish
even though as the match finished 1-1. The result
meant Hebden Bridge finished on 8 points and would
have to wait for Montenegro FC's next result to
see if this would be enough for the Group C title.
Jim Belch FC had drawn level with Feltham Garrison
and just one point behind Moss Deb FC as it became
even closer at the lower end of the group.
Montenegro
FC's challenge for the Group C title would rest
upon their result with Feltham Garrison FC who
themselves needed a result to secure a place in
the Plate. The team in 2nd could not break down
the Garrison defence which stood strong for its
second successive clean sheet. A draw would not
be good enough for Montenegro FC to claim the
title and in the end they would not even get this
as Feltham Garrison went on to claim all three
points thanks to a goal from Rob Graham which
guaranteed their place in the Plate. Colyn Thompson
earned his second clean sheet in the 1-0 win.
So,
with Hebden Bridge and Montenegro FC in the Cup
and Feltham Garrison already in the Plate the
last game would decide who would claim the final
Plate berth and who would have to settle for the
Wooden Spoon. Moss Deb's opening game win had
put them in pole position on 3 points as Jim Belch
FC sat on two points. Only a win would be good
enough for Jim Belch to overtake their rivals.
A
win is what they needed and a win is what they
got thanks to a first clean sheet for Richard
Faulknall and a goal from Dave Henning. Dave Henning
had scored for the ‘ Liverpool ' squad in last
years Premiership In… Portugal event and this
was his first of the 2009 campaign. It proved
a crucial goal as it was the only goal of the
game. Moss Deb FC did not help their own cause
though being reduced to 4 men straight after the
goal losing a man to a red card for swearing at
the referee. Moss Deb FC had slipped from 1st
to 5th over the course of the Group and would
play in the Wooden Spoon. Congratulations to Jim
Belch FC who would join Feltham Garrison FC in
Plate qualification.
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