The third in our Paul Cartmell Memorial Final review series and the first in which one of this season's finalists appears.
Kylie Bumcheeks 3 v 1 Aardvark Abacus
Shearer 58 Anelka 84
Beattie 73
Howey 90
Congratulations to Kylie Bumcheeks, who won the 2002 Paul Cartmell Memorial Trophy Final, thus retaining the trophy for the second successive year. Rich Smith’s team did it the hard way, though, by beating a tough and resilient Aardvark Abacus side in a tense and thrilling final.
The first half was the tense affair, with both sides adopting a cagey approach to their opponents. Carl Cort was substituted early on after a recurrence of his knee injury, and his sub Nicolas Anelka came closest in the first half, firing just wide after good flank work from Solano.
Kylie burst into life as an attacking force in the second half, however, after obviously getting a rocket from manager Rich Smith at half time. After sustained pressure, Shearer finally broke the deadlock on 58 minutes, with a trademark header from a Griffin cross. The other half of the league’s hottest strike force, James Beattie, extended the lead on 73 with a sweet volley. This brought Aardvark back to life, and they set up a grandstand finish when Anelka netted with a cool finish, with 6 minutes left on the clock. However, Steve Howey headed home in the last minute to ensure the cup went to Kylie!
The Millennium Stadium was the home for the match over the weekend of 28 December 2002. 78,592 watched the action. Sheriff's match report was put together while recuperating from his life-threatening pancreatitis.
The Bumcheeks side for the game was:
GK - De Goey Sub - Nash
DEF - Griffin, Hyypia, Short, Howey Sub - I.Pearce
MID - Foe, Mustoe, Djetou, Oakley Sub - Savage
ATT - Shearer, Beattie Sub - Huckerby
While Aardvark's team was:
GK - Keller Sub - Kirkland
DEF - Campbell, Lauren, Gallas, Riise Sub - Svensson
MID - Scholes, Smicer, Solano, Pedersen Sub - Legwinski
ATT - Gudjohnsen, Cort Sub - Anelka
The Bumcheeks also won the league this season with Aardvark as the runners-up, four points in arrears. That was three trophies in four season for Rich Smith before he left the league and the team became Eleven Imaginary Boys led by Jared Prothero.
Ady did win the FA Cup this season beating Trusted in a replay after an incredible 5-5 draw.
Anelka is still banging in WSFFL goals, albeit for the Cow-Faced Juniors but Kirkland, Gallas, Scholes and Campbell are all still Aardvarks.
One sad footnote though. While our very own Sheriff was winning his battle, Marc-Vivien Foe was to lose his life after collapsing during a Confederations Cup match between Cameroon and Colombia the following June.
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