Charity Shield Final report

Congratulations to Athletico Phoenix who won the Trophy for a second time in a seven-goal thriller against the Parrots.

Athletico Phoenix 4
Green sp9, van Persie 53, Costa 62, Rosicky 65

The Dead Parrots 3
Cisse 87p, K.Toure [c], Pieters [c]

(one cancelled clean)

At Old Trafford - Att: 75, 318

Teams:

Athletico - Green; Vertonghen, Zabaleta, Mertersacker, Williams; Rosicky, Downing, Lampard, Cazorla; van Persie, Costa.     Subs: Lindegaard; Jenkinson; Morrison; Vardy

Parrots - Hart; Debuchy, Pieters, McNair, K.Toure; Routledge, Navas, Barry, Jedinak; Lampert, Cisse.        Subs: Caballero; Hutton; Elmohamady; Drogba

Two of the league's in-form teams delivered a cracking first final of the season. Athletico had won four straight games scoring 15 and only conceding one in the process, the Parrots had won five and drawn two of their last seven games.

It wasn't long before we had our first action. A clumsy lunge in the area led to a Parrots spot-kick but Rob Green guessed right (or left depending on how you were looking) to make the save and get the first counter of the game. We were level at the break though as Kolo Toure departed the fray with a clean stuffed in his back pocket.

Brian's team took control after the break with three goals in 13 minutes. Robin van Persie perfectly timed his run away from the Parrots defence to nod his team ahead, Diego Costa twisted and turned and struck low into the bottom corner and Tomas Rosicky swept in from inside the area. That should have been that but the Parrots were thrown a lifeline with a penalty three minutes from time. Papiss Cisse converted and Erik Pieters followed up with a clean for Dean to give Brian some late jitters. The Phoenix held on and will take a very cold open top bus ride to Kingham with the trophy. Cancer Research UK will benefit from the league's £50 donation.

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How they got there:

Semi-finals

FCK2 1 v 2 Athletico Phoenix
The Dead Parrots 5 v 0 Cheese Makers  (after 2-2 draw)

Quarter-finals

Athletico Phoenix 4 v 2 Fred West Landscape Gardening XI
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum 0 v 2 FCK2
The Dead Parrots 2 v 1 Final Fantasy XI
YTFIB 0 v 3 Cheese Makers