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NORFOLK TROPHY FINAL:
Ash Samba Boyz v Smallville FC,
Wednesday 8th July 2009, Kick off: 19:00 CET,
at the Xpert Arena.
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The first trophy of the new season will be awarded on Wednesday night as the Norfolk Trophy reaches its climax. 32 teams began this knock-out competition but only 2 remain as we look set for a potential classis at the Xpert Arena.
This game has all the ingredients you would want from a cup final. You have two local rivals who are founders of the Norfolk League who have never reached this stage of the competition before and who are in the form of their lives currently.
In the yellow corner you have the Ash Samba Boyz who are chasing their place in history. Victory would mean the Samba Boyz would only be the 3rd team team to win all 3 major trophies (City of Uhra and Dutch Warriors are the others).
After seasons of relative under achievement, the exceptionally talented squad are finally reaching their full potential. Last season they clinched their first league title since season 3 and have continued their impressive form this season by winning all 8 games and remaining unbeaten since April - ironically in another local derby against toon rejects. They have only reached the last 4 of this competition previously but have played in 2 league cup finals.
In the blue corner are Smallville who are preparing for their first ever final and their first chance to win a trophy. They too have been in fantastic form recently, remaining unbeaten since early April. This season they lie in second place in Division One despite three of their four league games being away from home. Their previous best run in this competition was a semi-final appearance back in Season 2. Their main highlight previous to tomorrow evenings final was winning promotion to the Norfolk League in Season 7.
ROAD TO THE FINAL-------------------------------------------
ASH SAMBA BOYZ:
ROUND 1:
N.Y.Muggers (N) W 3-2 Quitino 41 pen,57,103.
ROUND 2:
Ross County Reserves (N) W 3-0 Gattuso 25,41, Rush 51.
QUARTER FINAL:
Shawfield Reborn (N) W 2-0 Makanaki 7, Evans 59.
SEMI FINALS:
Hotshots (N) W 3-0 Vuoriainen 9, Kelly 15,45.
SMALLVILLE FC:
ROUND 1:
Norfolk Enchants (N) W 4-0 Corte-Real 34, Resende 38,51, O'Callaghan 77.
ROUND 2:
toon rejects (N) D 2-2 Mjallby 6, Fabbri 88.
*Smallville won 4-3 on penalties*
QUARTER FINAL:
HM Gunners (N) W 1-0 Mjallby 84.
SEMI FINALS:
Dros Delnoch (N) D 1-1 Quique 87 pen.
*Smallville won 3-2 on penalties*
CURRENT FORM (league & Cup)---------------------------------
Team--------------P-W-L-D-GF-GA-PTS
Ash Samba Boyz....6..6..0..0..15...0...18
Smallville FC.........6..2..0..4....9...7...10
SEQUENCES---------------------------------------------------
Ash Samba Boyz:
- Have won their last 10 matches.
- Unbeaten since 08/04/2009 (16 games).
- Haven't conceded a goal for 601 minutes.
- Alf Kelly has scored 4 goals in his last 6 games.
- Antonio Quintino has scored 11 goals in his last 16 matches but only 1 in his last 7 games.
Smallville FC:
- Unbeaten since 11/04/2009 (14 matches).
- Have won 6 of their last 10 games.
- Have only kept 1 clean sheet in their last 7 games.
- Have scored in their last 14 matches.
- Holger Mjallby has scored 7 goals in his last 9 games having not scored in his first 9 games for the club.
ITS A FACT--------------------------------------------------
- Both the Samba Boyz 2 league cup finals were local derby's also - a 1-0 defeat to Car Fax Utd (now Edinburgh Wolves) and a 3-2 win over toon rejects.
- Smallville have won 2 penalty shootouts so far this season.
HEAD-TO-HEAD------------------------------------------------
Overall:
Played 3: 1 Ash Samba Boyz win, 2 draws.
In the cup:
Played 1: 1 Ash Samba Boyz win.
William Young v Daniel Taylor:
Played 3: 1 William Young wins, 2 draws.
Last Meeting: 24/01/2009 Norfolk League:
ASH SAMBA BOYZ 2 (Rush 16, Ingleby 93)
SMALLVILLE FC 2 (Sully 7, Nishimura 29)
TEAM NEWS---------------------------------------------------
The Samba Boyz will be without 3 of their ley midfielders. Aaron Brightwell, Daniel Evans and the experienced Gennaro Gattuso are all out injured.
Smallville ar without a couple of important players too. Defender Álvaro De Costa and midfielder Jimmy O´Callaghan are both missing through injury.
PLAYERS TO WATCH--------------------------------------------
ANTONIO QUINTINO, Defender, Ash Samba Boyz.
The 25-year-old defender has again been in top form this season helping the Samba Boyz maintain a tight defence. His expert set peices have already seen him score 4 goals and earn 1 assist this season, including a hat trick against N.Y.Muggers.
HOLGER MJALLBY, Striker, Smallville FC.
The 34 year old has been in inspired form this season, scoring 6 goals in his 7 games. Along with Edward Schillen of HM Gunners, he is the leading scorer in all competitions this season.
WHAT THE MANGERS HAVE TO SAY------------------------------
William Young, Ash Samba Boyz:
"I'm expecting a tough game. Local derbies are never easy - a perfect example is our 2 league cup finals where we've tasted both devastation and ecstasy. Both sides are in great form but something will have to give. Our injuries problems will cause me some selection headaches but I'm sure whoever players will rise to the occasion and hopefully help us to victory."
Daniel Taylor, Smallville FC:
"Why should my players feel any pressure as at the start of the competition we were n't given much of a chance of reaching the final so we have exceeded expectations really, so its a nice day out for the players and our supporters and were going out to enjoy ourselves"
PREVIOUS FINALS---------------------------------------------
Season 9: Dros Delnoch 1-0 AFC Trotters.
Season 8: Dutch Warriors 1-0 Shawfield Reborn.
Season 7: City of Uhra 4-0 Dutch Warriors.
Season 6: City of Uhra 2-1 Wilson F.C.
Season 5: Hotshots 2-1 City of Uhra.
Season 2: Rubber Dubbers 2-0 City of Uhra.
PREDICTION--------------------------------------------------
On paper its the classic David v Goliath. On paper the Samba Boyz have the stronger squad, despite their injury worries. They also edge it in the head to head stakes - although the 1 Samba Boyz victory (7-1 in this competition in Season 7) was against a weakend Smallville team. Smallville still have a good chance though - they have proved difficult to beat this season and that allways gives you a chance in a one off game.
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