Charity Shield Final

Aardvark Abacus 4
Son 23, 70
Matic 28
Rose [c]

v

YTFIB 1
Pereira 81

(no cancelled cleans)

At Old Trafford. Attendance: 74,523

Teams

Aardvarks: Pickford; Trippier, Stephens, Kompany, Lascelles; Rice, Matic, Torreira, Herrera; Lacazette, Son
Subs: Cech; Rose; Ki; Tosun

YTFIB: Ryan; Ream, Pereira, Fuchs, Taylor; Milner, Delph, Brooks, Gundogan; Andone, Hoilett Subs: Button; Riedewald; Keita; Depoitre

Match report:

The Aardvarks went into the game as firm favourites after a five-game winning run but YTFIB weren’t without hope coming off the back of a good win over Claymore.

After a slow start David Brooks had a chance to open the scoring for YTFIB after a quarter of an hour but looped his effort into the keeper’s arms. In-form Aardvark striker Son Heung-Min was more ruthless though and put Ady in front on 23 minutes, firing into the corner from 18 yards. Five minutes later the Aardvarks doubled their lead, Nemanja Matic poked in from close range after the YTFIB keeper barely denied a header from a corner.

The next goal was always likely to be crucial (they say 2-0 is a dangerous lead) and it was the Aardvarks who gave themselves breathing space, Son with his second - finishing off after a classic goalmouth scramble. Ricardo Pereira’s screamer with nine minutes left made it slightly uncomfortable for the Aardvarks but when YTFIB were reduced to ten men after Fabian Delph’s dismissal for a wild follow-through tackle the game was pretty much up. Danny Rose got the final counter of the game with a clean sheet.

Congrats to Ady on his first Charity Shield and completing the WSFFL 'Grand Slam', commiserations to Julian.

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How they got there:

Semi-finals

Aardvark Abacus 3 v 1 Claymore Athletic FC
YTFIB 3 v 1 Markian United

Quarter-finals

Aardvark Abacus 1 v 0 Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
Claymore Athletic FC 5 v 2 Athletico Phoenix
Markian United 2 v 1 Mega Buck Bandits
YTFIB 1 v 0 The Wateringhole Society