Group A

Burton Sat 1st
Stourvale
New Milton Eagles
Richmond Park Rangers B
LV FC (2)
Burton Sun Res

Group B

Richmond Park Rangers A
LV FC
New Milton Eagles Youth
Burrton Sun 1st
Bournemouth Athletic
Burton Sat Res

  
One recreation ground, two pitches, four referees, & 12 teams can be a recipe for disaster. However with sunshine and a little AFC Burton it can only result in success.

For our 5th year, another successful pre-season competition was played fairly and enjoyed by all.

The standard of football for this year’s tournament was the highest we’ve seen yet, this was reflected in close games and tight leagues.
Group A playing on pitch one saw Burton Sat 1st & Stourvale assert themselves as potential group winners, getting off to good starts. Once all the teams had played three games it was only New Milton Eagle Old Boys who looked to be able to challenge the top two.
Group B, over on pitch two was much closer with all six teams able to progress after everyone had played three games.
 		         
AFC Burton Saturday 1st team continued to make use of home advantage and finished top of group A. Stourvale managed to creep in to the semi’s on goal difference, keeping at bay the late
charge form New Milton Eagles Old Boys.
Group B stayed tight until the end with many permutations possible, below Richmond Park Rangers who in the end dominated the group. Only losing one game and conceding one goal! LV FC joined RPR in the Semi’s, but it really was one from four.
The only side with out a win, a point or a goal was AFC Burton Sunday Reserves, however they still all enjoyed the day, as it was a scratch team with a couple of late replacements!

Once the league faze was completed, we held a penalty competition to raise money for the New Build. The majority of funds raised today will be going towards replacing out dated changing rooms with a modern clubhouse.
The winner was Chris from Stourvale. Hopefully he’ll be back next season to defend his title!		    
 
   
   
Semi-Finals

The first semi saw group a winners AFC Burton Sat 1st’s looking to take the full quota of home advantage and progress to the final at the expense of LV FC. However two quick goals from LV left Burton deflated. LV continued to out play Burton in the first half & took a 3-0 lead in to half time. A late rally from Burton and two goals late in the second half gave hope of a come back, but a fourth for LV sealed there second final in as many years.

The second semi was a much tighter affair, with the evenly matched Richmond Park Rangers & Stourvale both producing good football. Two well taken goals, one for each team, meant we were left with the first penalty shoot out of the tournament. Players from both sides held there nerve until one was missed for RPR, however a good save from there keeper and a miss from Stourvale, meant RPR progressed 4-3.
Final
Anticipation for a quality games was high as the raining champs went in to the final to defend their trophy. Almost the first kick of the game was a pearlier of a wonder strike from RPR, from the half way line. The quality of football increased and with LV offering some sublime skills they edged out RPR, running out eventual winners 3-2 .
 
& Finally

I’d like to thank all the teams & everyone from AFC Burton who have helped me in making this an enjoyable day for all. Especially Mark Sallis, June Sallis, Ben Pilley, Dickie Davis, Dan Hockton, & Chris House.
Also thanks to Steve Gallimore and the team of referees, who wanted to past on there thanks to each team for making it an enjoyable day for them too.
Hopefully we can have a successful event again next year, please put Sunday 22nd July in your diaries, invitations to follow.

Yours in football


Benjamin L. Pantling