Sunday, 28 December 2025

2025/26 - Charity Shield Final

Cheese Makers 3
Joao Pedro 37
Reijnders 48
Jimenez 85

v

Garth Crooks' Team of the Week 1
Martinez [c88]

(no cancelled cleans)

At Old Trafford,  Attendance: 

Teams

Cheese (4-4-2)
Raya Martin; Ballard, Robertson, Lewis, Geertruida; Murphy, O'Reilly, Reijnders, Jones; Jimenez, Joao Pedro        
Subs: Bayindir; Milenkovic; Casemiro, Gordon

GC TotW (5-4-1)
Victor; Martinez, Konate, Lewis-Skelly, Romero, Veltman; Martinelli, Gibbs-White, Grealish, Rigg; Brobbey
Subs: Jorgensen; Wan-Bissaka, Elliott, Kalimuendo

Report

Cheese Makers came into the final in confident mood with just two defeats in their last ten games. GC TotW were shorn of two of their best players in Mohamed Salah (AFCON) and Bruno Fernandes (injury) so lined up in a 5-4-, looking to keep it tight and try to nick it.

That worked up until eight minutes before half time when an in-swinging corner flicked off Joao Pedro and in to put Matthew’s team one up. The lead was doubled three minutes after the interval. Tijjani Reijnders finished off a slick move, firing under John Victor.

Five minutes from time Raul Jimenez planted a header from six yards into the far corner. The Cheese must have felt the game was done but had a wake-up call almost immediately when Lisandro Martinez bagged an early clean to cut the deficit. Matthew’s team saw it out from there to give him his first trophy in his 15th season of trying. Patience is a virtue!

-----

How They Got There

Semi-finals

Garth Crooks' Team of the Week 3 v 1 Stanley and Gracie United 
Mega Buck Bandits 1 v 3 Cheese Makers

Quarter-finals

Cheese Makers 3 v 1 Markian United 
Garth Crooks' Team of the Week 4 v 0 Wheel Madrid (after 1-1 draw)
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum 0 v 1 Stanley and Gracie United
The Fabulous Artisans 0 v 2 Mega Buck Bandits



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