Thank you to all the teams that took part in the Trafford Christmas Challenge 2012
On Wednesday 19th December 21 teams took part in our competition. Teams were split into 3 groups of 5 and 1 of 6.
Group A was a fiercely contested group with the top 4 teams being separated by only 1 point. The group went right down to the last few games. Following their defeat in the penultimate game Lincoln Rovers went into the last game knowing nothing but a win was good enough to see them through. With FC Hollywood on 6 points a point would have been enough to go through. Lincoln won 2-0 to go through as group winners. FC Hollywood would finish 3rd with The Vipers sealing 2nd winning their final 2 games following a poor start.
Group B was another tight affair with the top 2 places being fought over closely between Good Hidings We Bring (most festive name of the night), Tiki Taki and NCFC. Going into the final game Tiki Taki were already assured of their place following 3 wins out of 3. Good Hidings needed to beat them to overtake NCFC as both teams were on 7 but NCFC had a better goal difference. Good Hidings did not disappoint and ran out 3-2 winners which saw them through and also secure top spot.
Group C saw 2 teams well accustomed to the Soccerdome tournaments with both Vicks and Superbock taking part. They would be joined in the group by Jackson 4, Al-Shahab FC A and FC Corsa. Unfortunately for Corsa they were the whipping boys of the group and lost all 4 games. Superbock picking up a win in the last game over Jackson (who finished on 6 points) topped the group with 3 wins out of 4 and would be joined by Vicks who also won 3 out of 4.
Group D saw are first team have a 100% record. Congratulations to Benchill Community group who swept all in front to record 5 wins out of 5. 2nd place was closely contested between Athletico Trafford and DTW. Athletico Trafford just pipped DTW with 4 wins out of 5 while DTW lost 2 games to Athletico and Benchill by the solitary goal.
Onto the knockout stages and the first quarter final saw Lincoln Rovers play Athletico Trafford. There wasn't much between the 2 teams and Lincoln went through 2-1 winners. They would meet the winners of quarter Good Hidings vs Vicks. This game would give us our first penalty shootout of the tournament. Quarter final number 3 saw Superbock make a real statement to the other teams with emphatic 4-1 win over Tiki Taki. They would meet the unbeaten Benchill or The Vipers. In what was maybe a shock, Benchill lost their 100% record and went down 1-0.
Onto the semi finals and the first game saw Lincoln Rovers vs Good Hidings We Bring. In a closely fought match it was decided by the solitary goal with Lincoln taking the honours 1-0. In the final they would meet the winners of Superbock vs The Vipers. Superbock again showed a classy display and ran out comfortable 3-0 winners.
The final saw Lincoln Rovers taking on Superbock. In a feisty affair, Lincoln took an early league only for Superbock to fight back and take a 2-1 lead. Lincoln were then chasing the game and it was made harder for them following a last man challenge resulting in their going down to 4 players for 2mins. Lincoln could not find a way back in and Superbock ran out 2-1winners.
Congratulations to Superbock on winning the Trafford Christmas Challenge 2012
