PHOENIX got the new season off to a flying start at the weekend when they beat Dinamo Dorigo to lift the Bill Price Memorial Trophy. Originally due to be played at Wingate and Finchley’s Abrahams Stadium, the less lavish Hackney Marshes ended up playing host to a thrilling curtain-raiser.
Division Two underdogs Dinamo made the better start and took a deserved lead within five minutes of the kick-off when Jon George headed home Hiren Ichharam’s dangerous inswinging corner.
But their lead lasted only a matter of minutes as Phoenix quickly pulled the scores level when debutant striker Ricky Lucas added the finishing touches to a clever through ball from Scott Cole. The comeback was complete on 25 minutes when Aaron Clarke got on the end of an inch perfect cross from Dean Syer.
A Phoenix win wouldn’t be complete without star striker James Cole getting his name on the score sheet. The leading marksman, who finished as the club’s top scorer last season with 25 goals, played a defence-splitting one-two with his dad Scott before firing home a decisive third just before the break.
Phoenix wrapped up a memorable victory midway through the second-half when Lucas finished what he started with his second of the game.
The win was especially sweet for midfielder John Boreham, who lives in Holloway Road, who announced before the game that he was going to hang up his boots after three years with the club. After the game manager Dave Harber said: “All the boys are over the moon. Dinamo played some terrific football and didn’t deserve to be on the end of a 4-1 score line. “Although we didn’t play as well as we can, we got what we deserved. Hopefully we can now go on to win more trophies this season.”
Harber also had a warning for Division One champions Reddot. “We are developing a great young squad. We had two great players in Daniel Syer and Aaron Kennedy who didn’t get the chance to play in the final,” he said. “And we have also added some fantastic finishers to the team. All I can say is watch out Reddot.”