Soaraway Phoenix target super treble

Published: 24 March, 2011
by STEVE BARNETT

UNSTOPPABLE Phoenix completed a fantastic double in the Camden Sunday League at the weekend, and then roared “bring on the treble”, writes Steve Barnett.

The free-scoring side retained the Senior Cup with a 3-0 win over Athletico Annies at Cockfosters Stadium, just weeks after being crowned Division One champions. 

The two sides will now meet again in April in the final of our prestigious Challenge Cup, and manager Dave Harber is hoping his side will add the finishing touches to what has been a magnificent season. 

“We’ve retained our double from last year and I’m extremely proud of the team,” he said. “Hopefully we can go one better this year and win the Challenge Cup too. 

“Annie’s put up a fantastic challenge and were worthy of their place in the final. We’re looking forward to playing them again and hopefully we can get the same result.”

On Sunday there was little separating the two sides at half time as chances arrived few and far between, but that all changed within 10 blistering minutes of the restart. 

Winger Gio Falzone showed excellent close control before guiding his shot across the keeper to open the scoring. With the deadlock broken Phoenix didn’t have to wait long for their second which came when captain Michael Pattrick headed home Jason Donion’s corner. 

A Phoenix win isn’t complete until leading scorer Anthony “The Machine” Clarke gets on the scoresheet, and so it proved again as the striker netted his 46th of the season to wrap up a 3-0 win. 

Athletico Annies never gave up but couldn’t find a way past man-of-the-match Paul Dunne at the heart of the Phoenix defence, or goalkeeper Daniel Ewens.