Latest results from Staffordshire

Home advantage counted for nothing when the finals of the County Championships, Staffordshire Cup and Mercian Cups were held in Burton-on-Trent last night. In the Mercian Cup final (first held in 1975) Tony Machin discovered big match nerves when he couldn't hold on to a 1-0 lead, and Wolverhampton's Justin Scott scored two second half goals to win his first trophy after decades of being a beaten finalist. In the final of the Staffordshire Cup, played across the season, and this year with an improved entry of 32, Justin faced perennial finalist Mike Bradbury, who used his experience to good effect. Goal-less at the break, Bradbury scored soon after, and although Scott pushed for an equaliser, Bradbury broke away and scored a second on the counter-attack. Scott had mentally conceded defeat by the time Bradbury added a late third to win his 18th Staffordshire Cup. The third high powered game of the night saw Tony Machin take on Bradbury in the hope that his nerves could be put to bed. However, Bradbury raised his game again, and powered his way to a 4-0 victory with his best performance of the year. There were some amusing incidents in all three games, when more than once, fast moves ending in shots on the run resulted in the ball being 'saved' by the unheld prone goalkeeper. And so, after the most intense night of top class Subbuteo, the results were-

bradbury vs Scott

County championships final (32 entries).
Mike Bradbury 4-0 Tony Machin

Scott vs Bradbury

the 48th Staffordshire Cup final (32 entries and first played in 1969)
Mike Bradbury 3-0 Justin Scott.

Scott vs Machin

Mercian Cup final (16 entries)
Justin Scott 2-1 Tony Machin.

(Report by Mike Bradbury)