The 2013 Algarve Open Wooden Spoon Final was the battle for 17th position, a consolation prize and one last game to enjoy on the Algarve football tour to Albufeira.

The game would be contested by Norton Hill Old Boys and Bede FC. Norton Hill Old Boys were the Plate winners in a very tough 2012 Mallorca Tournament (that saw two previous Cup winners in the Plate) so it was maybe a surprise to see them in the Wooden Spoon. Four 1-goal defeats had taken its toll on their chances and if they could have eeked out a bit more cutting edge (in a very hard group it has to be said) maybe they could have made the Plate.

Bede FC had been in the Wooden Spoon before in the 2011 Barcelona Fives where they went out in the Semi-Finals 7-2 to a rampant Stamford AC team.

Norton Old Boys were perhaps in better shape for this with better morning results and a full squad to choose from. Bede FC were the walking wounded with a patched up minimum 5 players but they had youth on their side relative to their opponents.

We reached half-time with nothing to split the teams at 0-0. We reached full time with nothing to split the teams at 1-1 thanks to goals from Mike Baber (Norton Hill Old Boys) and Muhamed Chilwan (Bede FC). The game would go into Golden Goal extra time.

The game was ripe for a hero to step forward and that hero was Mike Baber. The man they call Tex bagged his second goal of the game to claim the victory for Norton Hill Old Boys and end the day for Bede FC. Congratulations to all and Norton Old Boys finished their second successive tournament with a win and something to take home for the trophy cabinet…not sure the Wooden Spoon looks as good as last year's trophy though!

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