Norfolk Trophy Final Preview

NORFOLK TROPHY FINAL:
Ash Samba Boyz v Hotshots,
Wednesday 17th February 2010, Kick off: 19:00 CET,
at the Xpert Arena.

The first cup final of the new season takes place on Wednesday night with the competitions last two winners preparing for to face off against each other. In the yellow corner we have Ash Samba Boyz - winners in Season 10 and beaten finalists in Season 11. In the white corner, we have last seasons winners Hotshots. They also triumphed in Season 5 and no side has triumphed more times in the competition.

After an unspectacular history in the early seasons of the competition, Ash Samba Boyz have transformed their record and are now preparing for their third straight final. They also have plenty of experience of cup success in the league cup with 2 wins and one beaten finals appearance. Their form has been good this season and they currently lie 2nd in the Norfolk League with three wins and a draw.

Hotshots are twice winners of this competition and also have
a semi finals appearance under their belt. They also reached the final of the league cup in season 10 before losing to tomorrows opponents. Having finished 2nd in the Norfolk League last sesaon, they have made a slow start to this campaign having picked up 4 points from their opening 4 games leaving them 6th.

ROAD TO THE FINAL

ASH SAMBA BOYZ:

Round	Opposition	Result	Goal Scorers
1	Athletico Redhill	D 0-0	(Pens 4-2)
2	Dangler Dans	W 4-0	Makanaki 2, Espeseth, Brightwell
QF	City of Uhra	W 3-0	Evans 2, Quintino (pen)
SF	Toon Army	W 5-0	Reimarmuller, Evans, Ingleby (2), Brightwell

HOTSHOTS

Round	Opposition	Result	Goal Scorers
1	Boca Seniors	W 3-1	McKeever 2, Lines
2	Amazingstoke Gooners	D 1-1	Lines (Pens 6-5)
QF	Fulham FC	W 2-1	Lines 2
SF	Dutch Warriors	D 0-0	(Pens 5-4)

CURRENT FORM (league & Cup)

Team	Pld	Won	Lst	Drn	GF	GA	PTS
Ash Samba Boyz	6	5	0	1	17	5	16
Hotshots	6	2	2	2	9	9	8

SEQUENCES

Ash Samba Boyz:
- Have won 11 of their last 13 matches.
- Have kept 6 clean sheets in their last 11 games.
- Have only lost 1 of their last 14 games.
- Have won 12 of their last 14 Trophy matches.
- They are yet to concede a goal in this seasons competition.
- Isaac Rush has scored 6 goals in his last 4 Trophy games.

Hotshots:
- Have only won 3 of their last 10 games.
- Have only kept 1 clean sheet in their last 10 matches.
- Unbeaten in their last 9 Trophy matches.
- Have only lost 1 of their last 14 Trophy games.
- Have won 6 of their last 9 Trophy matches.
- Martyn Lines has scored 4 goals in his last 3 Trophy games.

PENALTY RECORD

Team	Pld	Won	Lost
Hotshots	8	5	3
Ash Samba Boyz	2	2	0

ITS A FACT

- Hotshots are rhe only side to defeat the Ash Samba Boyz in this competition in the last 3 seasons
- This is the 3rd cup final contested between these two sides - they have won one each
- This is the 3rd time out of the last 4 cup competitions that these two have met in the final.
- Martyn Lines is the joint top scorer in the competition this season with 4 goals.
- 16 goals were shared in the 3 fixtures between these two last season.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Overall:

	Played	Samba Boyz	Hotshots	Draws
Overall	19	11	7	1
In the cup	5	4	1	0
At Xpert Arena	3	2	1	0
Between the managers	19	11	7	1

LAST MEETING

02/01/2010, Norfolk League

Hotshots	0	Ash Samba Boyz	2
		Reimarmuller Quintino	11 27

TEAM NEWS

Ash Samba Boyz are without experienced defender Tito Martinelli and goal scoring midfielder Didier Makanaki both through injury. Daniel Evans is available though after recovering from a knock.

Hotshots are without 28-year-old midfielder Wes Haslop through injury.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

DANIEL EVANS, Midfielder, Ash Samba Boyz
The 28-yearr-old has been in great form this season, scoring 3 goals and earning 3 assists. No current player has created more goals in cup competitions than Evans.

MARTYN LINES, Striker, Hotshots
The 30-year-old striker has netted 5 goals so far this season and has scored 7 goals against the Samba Boyz in the past. He is the third highest goalscorer of all time with 71 goals in all competitions.

REFEREE

WANDA RINN, Skill 7, Hardness 2
Matches: 52
Penalties awarded: 6
Yellow Cards: 29
Red Cards: 0

PREVIOUS FINALS

Season 11: Hotshots 6-1 Ash Samba Boyz
Season 10: Ash Samba Boyz 2-0 Smallville FC
Season 9: Toon Army 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 Pegasus
Season 5: Hotshots 2-1 City of Uhra.
Season 2: Stans Rangers 2-0 City of Uhra.

PREDICTION

Recent meetings between these two have produced an avalanche of goals with 24 scored in their last 4 matches so an entertaining final should be guaranteed. Both sides will miss their unavailable players - Martinelli of the Samba Boyz may be the biggest abscence of all and with their strong attackers, this will be the area Hotshots will hope to dominate. The Midfield is where the Samba Boyz appear to hold the aces and they will probably look to control possession to try and negate the Hotshots attacking strength. A possible key factor maybe the choice of referee - Wanda Rinn is once of the most lenient officials and that may reduce the chance for Quintino to produce his deadly set-pieces.

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