Bumper Bumblebees
Second Best By Far
For all Grilled's posturing, the Trinity Cup final was a one-sided event as hosts Breadwood Utd swallowed up a composite Grilled side. Alcántara was torn between honouring his pledge to put training foremost and bringing home some silverware to liven up a drab season, and ended up fielding a strange-looking blend of players.
Asher and Shen reprised their midfield roles, with
Dani Spirig given freedom of the park. Paullin was displaced to the right flank while van Liere was stationed on the left. Langeland was not given the chance to grab the top scorers' award as he was not even on the bench, and
Quah Han Kok appeared aside Martinsson as a forward.
Breadwood Utd moreover were on cloud nine after topping their league, and the rested legs and can-do vibes were plainly for all to see. In the third minute, young Danish striker Toke Friese served up a polished goal as he lapped up a diagonal pass by Dutch winger Klaas Webers. Captain for the day
Johan Dewilde was caught standing still as Friese raced past him on the inside.
Dani Spirig, as he had done in the semi-finals, rocked the game with a crazy backheel while spinning to transfer the ball to Martinsson through the legs of a defender. This looked an equaliser all its way as Brazillian goalkeeper Jorge Bessa was well beaten, but the reaction shot rolled past the post.
33 year-old defender Tonny Grove had not forgotten his touch as he waylaid Alcántara as the latter brought the ball up, and went around Harlow as his strikers kept Bona busy in the center. With seven minutes to go in the half, towering defender Brian Harder soared unmarked and made it three to nothing.
Grilled's lack of fluidity was beginning to show, as Paullin often abandoned his wing and Han Kok preferred lurking far wide. Spirig was willing but lightweight against Breadwood's veterans, and even the first-teamers had no ideas other than passing to the overworked van Liere to kickstart the attack.
Breadwood exhibited no weaknesses that the Grilled team could attack, and a fourth came when mid-season bargain buy Didier Sauthier was alert on a loose ball in the danger zone. He sent the ball on the way, and Harlow, whose view was blocked by the swarm of defenders in front of him, let it in cheaply.
Grilled were not totally dishonoured as
Lorenz Paullin sprinted past everyone on the right, as van Liere drew the bulk of the marking. He managed to penetrate deep into the box before meeting a challenge, but by that time
Ola Martinsson was on hand to tuck the pass into the corner as a consolation.
That in no way inspired a revival, as Breadwood were clearly the better side. Shen was forced into a crunching tackle to stop the nippy Peter Persson, for which he was booked. A while later, Friese made it a night to remember for the delirious home support as he barged through a lazy defence to score Breadwood's fifth and last goal.
