Late goals deny Phoenix victory in London FA Intermediate Cup Final

Published: 04 April 2012
by STEVE BARNETT

PHOENIX football club manager Dave Harber has vowed that his players will “bounce back” after suffering a heartbreaking defeat in the final of the London FA Intermediate Cup on Sunday.

The Camden Sunday League side did the borough proud as they battled for glory against Yalova FC at Champion Hill Stadium, home of Dulwich Hamlet FC.

Despite coming back from a goal down to take the lead, Phoenix saw their hopes of lifting the prestigious prize ripped from within their grasp as their Turkish opponents scored two late goals to clinch a 3-2 victory.

“From the second we equalised it looked like only one team was going to win it,” said Dave.

“I thought this was going to be our year.

We were 2-1 up with eight minutes to go, but time just wouldn’t tick away quick enough.

We had the cup taken away from us, and that’s hard to take.”

After going a goal down, Phoenix man-of-the-match Dave Dawson scored from close range.

Phoenix  then went ahead through an own goal but, despite some goalkeeping heroics from Daniel Ewens, Yalova snatched the winner in a frantic final few minutes.

Coach Dave insists defeat will only make his players hungrier for success next season.

He said: “We’ll be in the London Challenge Cup, which has better teams and is even harder to win – but we’re ready for the challenge.”