The second half began with the teams still closely matched – both defences and midfields on top, conceding little space to their opponents and chances were scarce. With 5 minutes to go it was We've Got Wood who took the lead. There was some great interplay between Ross Lawson and Richard Jones around the box. The ball was fed left to Lawson who found Jones free in the middle. St Paul's College Old Boys almost closed down the space but some neat footwork from Richard Jones opened up the space to apply the finish.

 

We've Got Wood then sat in to soak up the pressure and limit the chances of St Paul's College Old Boys to hit back. There was active game management in evidence with the team curtailing their instincts to push forward with their subs calling back players who looked to chase the ball high up the field. They were, in effect, challenging St Paul's College Old Boys to break them down.

 

St Paul's College Old Boys did have a couple of chances but Daniel Boulton in the We've Got Wood goal was equal to them. Then one big decision almost turned the game with just a couple of minutes to go as there was a handball on the edge of the box. There were claims for a penalty but it was given as just outside and from our vantage point the decision was a correct one. Bucky powered in the free-kick which hit the wall and spun narrowly wide. The corner came to nothing – had We've Got Wood weathered the storm?

 

A couple more free-kicks, just inside the We've Got Wood half, briefly threatened as it was attack versus defence in the final stages but We've Got Wood had enough to see the game out. It was a superb victory.

 

We offer our consolations to St Paul's College Old Boy's 1st Team on a fine campaign – they could not have got any closer to a momentous third successive Plate victory.

 

We offer huge congratulations to our 2016 Mallorca Tournament Plate Champions – We've Got Wood.