------------------------------------------------------------
NORFOLK LEAGUE CUP FINAL:
Hotshots v Ash Samba Boyz,
Wednesday 9th September 2009, Kick off: 19:00 CET,
at the Xpert Arena.
------------------------------------------------------------
Our attention turns to the Xpert Arena on Wednesday night as the final of the Norfolk Leagues premier cup competition takes place.
In the final we have two of the most in form sides currently around. Hotshots, are chasing their first league cup triumph and their first silverware since they won the Norfolk Trophy back in season 5. After a mid-season blip, Jakestars side have picked up their form in recent weeks and lie just 1 point off the promotion places entering the final game of the season. They have won 9 of their last 10 games in all competitions. This is the first time they have ever been past the quarter finals in this compeition.
Their oponents in the final are Norfolk League champions Ash Samba Boyz who are looking to become the first side to win all 3 major trophies in the same season. The Samba Boyz are playing in their 3rd league cup final - all 3 of which have been against lower division opposition. They were defeated by the then named Car Fax Utd in Season 5 before defeating toon rejects in season 6. Earlier in the season the Samba Boyz had a 21 match winning streak. More recently they have managed to keep the momentum running to claim their 2nd consecutive league title.
ROAD TO THE FINAL-------------------------------------------
HOTSHOTS
--------
ROUND 1:
1st Leg: CHERTSEYCHOPPERS (H) W 3-0 McKeever, Cooke, Haslop (pen)
2nd Leg: chertseychoppers (A) W 7-1 Lines (3), Haslop (2), Lonnegan, Cooke.
ROUND 2:
1st Leg: BLACKHAWK RANGERS (H) W 3-0 Lines (2), Barlow.
2nd Leg: Blackhawk Rangers (A) W 2-1 Lines, Caldwell (og)
QIARTER FINAL:
1st Leg: HM GUNNERS (H) W 5-1 Mordillo, Lines (Pen), Irons (2), Arai.
2nd Leg: HM Gunners (A) W 3-0 Irons (2), Cooke.
SEMI FINAL:
1st Leg: Smallville FC (A) W 1-2 Tsartsas. Mordillo.
2nd Leg: SMALLVILLE FC (H) W 3-1 Lines, Oddish, Arai.
ASH SAMBA BOYZ:
---------------
ROUND 1:
1st Leg: NORFOLK AND CHANCE (H) W 4-0 Rush, Inglby, Quintino (pen), Reimarmuller.
2nd Leg: Norfolk And Chance (A) W 3-1 Quintino (pen), Espeseth, Brightwell.
ROUND 2:
1st Leg: Shawfield Reborn (A) W 3-1 Evans (2), Brightwell.
2nd Leg: SHAWFIELD REBORN (H) W 2-1 Kelly, Ingleby
QUARTER FINAL:
1st Leg: Ross County Reserves (A) W 3-1 Kelly (2), Quintino (pen).
2nd Leg: ROSS COUNTY RESERVES (H) W 6-1 Vuoriainen, Brightwell, Young, Rush(2), Evans.
SEMI FINALS:
1st Leg: CITY OF UHRA (H) W 6-1 Rush (2), Kelly (2), Quintino (2).
2nd Leg: City of Uhra (A) D 1-1 Makanaki.
CURRENT FORM (league & Cup)---------------------------------
Team------------P-W-L-D-GF-GA-PTS
Hotshots............6..5..1..0..14...5..16
Ash Samba Boyz..6..4..2..0..20...4..14
SEQUENCES---------------------------------------------------
Hotshots:
- Have won 9 of their last 10 matches.
- Have only lost 1 of their last 16 games.
- Have only kept 1 clean sheet in their last 8 games.
- Martyn Lines has scored 8 goals in his last 7 league cup ties.
- Bernard Irons has scored 11 goals in his last 8 matches.
Ash Samba Boyz:
- Have only lost 1 of their last 34 games.
- Have won 25 of their last 28 matches.
- Have scored in 56 of their last 57 games.
- Antonio Quintino has scored 8 goals in his last 7 league cup ties.
- Have won their last 5 matches at the Xpert Arena.
ITS A FACT--------------------------------------------------
- This is the 4th major final Ash Samba Boyz have been in - all against lower league opposition.
- The last time Hotshots won a major trophy, they beat that seasons Norfolk League champions in the final.
- The last lower division team to win a major trophy was Shawfield Reborn in Season 8 when they won the league cup.
- Only 3 lower division sides have won the league cup (Dutch Warriors, Edinburgh Wolves and Shawfield Reborn.
- Hotshots are the 7th side from outside of the top flight to reach the final.
- 8 of the previous 9 league cup finals have been decided by 1 goal (including the last 6 finals).
- In 15 previous meetings these two sides have only ever produced 1 draw.
HEAD-TO-HEAD------------------------------------------------
Overall:
Played 15: 6 Hotshots wins, 8 Ash Samba Boyz wins, 1 draws.
In the cup:
Played 3: 3 Ash Samba Boyz win.
Jakestar v William Young:
Played 15: 6 Jakestar wins, 8 William Young wins, 1 draws.
Last Meeting: 01/07/2009 Norfolk Trophy Semi Final:
HOTSHOTS 0
ASH SAMBA BOYZ 3 (Vuoriainen 9, Kelly 15,45)
TEAM NEWS---------------------------------------------------
Hotshots star defender Yukihiko Arai faces the heartbreak of missing out through suspension. Antonio Mordillo is expected to be fit though following a recent injury.
The Samba Boyz only injury doubt is over defender Tito Martinelli but he is expected to be fit to play. Herbert Burlett returns from suspension.
PLAYERS TO WATCH--------------------------------------------
ANTONIO QUINTINO, Defender, Ash Samba Boyz.
The Samba Boyz star man has been in top form all season and has certainly proven a threat going forward too. He has hit 11 goals and earned 7 assists in 23 games. He has also earned 21 xpert eleven nominations, 13 of which as captain.
BERNARD IRONS, Striker, Hotshots.
The 21 year-old has come of age this season and has struck 14 goals in all competitions in just 17 games. He has formed a formidible partnership up front with Martyn Lines.
PREVIOUS FINALS---------------------------------------------
Season 9: City of Uhra 2-1 toon rejects
Season 8: Shawfield Reborn 1-0 Dutch Warriors
Season 7: Dutch Warriors 2-1 City of Uhra
Season 6: Ash Samba Boyz 3-2 toon rejects
Season 5: Edinburgh Wolves 1-0 Ash Samba Boyz
Season 4: Highland Select 1-0 City of Uhra (0-0 Away, 1-0 Home)
Season 3: Dutch Warriors 2-0 Toft Monks Athletic (1-0 Home, 1-0 Away)
Season 2: Dutch Warriors 3-2 Norfolk Enchants (2-2 Away, 1-0 Home)
Season 1: Toft Monks Athletic 3-2 Highland Select (2-2 Away, 1-0 Home)
The finals in seasons 1-4 were played over 2 legs.
PREDICTION--------------------------------------------------
When these two sides met earlier in the season in the Trophy, the Samba Boyz were in the middle of their fabolous winning run, whilst Hotshots were just embarking on a difficult run of form. However, as the Samba Boyz have started to look human recently, its the Hotshots who have started to show signs of a team at the top of their game. That certainly points to a close game, as does the history of the previous finals. Hotshots have the fire power to trouble the favourites, but without Arai in defence can they keep out the Samba Boyz bombardment from midfield?
back to the
preview section
Home
|
Norfolk League | Division One | Division Two | Division Three | Stats Section | Hall of Fame | Previews |
Press | Transfers in | Transfers out | Fantasy
Football | How to join | links |