Dubai North End take the title in crippling heat & humidity

The first round was played in unseasonally hot weather and the finals was no different! Prior to the start we saw three teams unable to make the finals for a variety of reasons, nevertheless the five teams who made it this far all thought they were in with a chance of winning the coverted title.

Defending champions Jessies Old Boys got off to a miserable start with a defeat to Edgar's 5 and never really recovered despite a couple of wins it was not enough to progress to the final. Disappointed maybe but let's be fair it takes a little while for the guys to get warmed up these days so a first match defeat maybe to be expected?!

Best dressed they might have been but surely it has to go down as a great tactical error, as the Goose Green Raiders chose to wear the Argentinian strip which merely galvinised the opposition teams to perform at their best to put right the Maradona incident in their own little way. And so it came to pass, one limp draw was all they had to show for their invasion of JESS and tails between their legs they departed, perhaps a military coup is in order before next year.

Edgar's 5 eagerly marshalled from the back by the ageless Adam peaked a little early, and it was all over by the second match as they tired in the heat and humidity. They will be in the market for a young goalscoring Dad for next year's tournament, but then which team won't be?

Dubai North End, inspired by their namesakes got off to a great start with two wins and six goals, wow who was going to stop them? Well it was the Old Boys to be exact, who found their touch and stopped the North End in their tracks, but it proved to be a temporary set back as they headed to the final.

Dubai Wanderers couldn't have had a worst start, going down to the North End, but the Wanderers weren't going to roll over as they dusted themselves down and progressed to the final with three workman-like performances. The tournament outsiders had the chance of taking the title.

 

The Final

Wanderers may have started as underdogs and going a goal down early it looked like North End might run away with it, but after a spell of good possession the Wanderers equalised and suddenly it was game on. The North End did not panic knowing that they had potential goalscorers in all positions and sure enough with a couple of minutes left the decisive goal was scored. The well organised North End felt confident as the increasingly tired Wanderers couldn't find a way through and the final whistle frankly came as relief to all concerned, it had been a sweaty affair for sure.

Dubai North End were worthy winners and their trophies can sit proudly on their shelves .......

Many thanks to all participants.