PETER MORRISON TROPHY ROUND THREE
ATHLETIC BILBAUM 2 BRADY MACCABI A 5

Brady A saw off a determined challenge from second division Bilbaum with Jon Green (2), Matt Sofier (2) and Brad Sharp on target.

Brady took the lead after only a handful of minutes, but the Baums fought back and led 2-1 at the end of the half. Excellent finishes from Ed Green and Ben Bell rewarding the tenacious team effort from the Division Two outfit.

Brady boss Joel Nathan told JC Sport: "We only played well in patches today, but when we did pass the ball around you could tell the difference between the two sides.

"I would just like to mention the Bilbaum keeper who had an exceptional game. When we weren't playing well we lost our heads a little bit especially between ourselves and that is not good, and I told the boys that at half time, but a win is a win and it now see’s with only one loss in our last six games so it was a great way to end the year."

Bilbaum joint-manager Mark Pasha told JC Sport: "I believe what they say in common parlance is; don't judge a book by its cover. While the 5-2 scoreline says one thing, the match was a far shout from the glittering outcome for Brady.

"We did well to turn the tie around, then moments into the second half, as if struck by a fart from Zeus himself, Bell pulled up whilst on another of his darting runs, and the dark clouds began to loom. As the breeze blew, tumbleweed bounced across the scene of an empty Baum bench, and the Baums fought on with 10. And a valiant attempt it was, but ultimately thwarted by those pesky kids in red (and a bit of black I think).

"As the game wore, the Baum resistance weakened and eventually the grapes turned to raisins. The result was tough to swallow, although we knew the risks from the outset, but overall it was a fantastic performance to end 2012 and the Baums will pack their trunks and march proudly into 2013 with a trumpety-trump, trump trump trump."