No lightening storm this week as BCII finish runners up to MK Utd in the Div 2 Charity Cup.
Match report to follow.....

Crownhill Vauxhall were still presented with the Div 2 league winners trophy,  MK Utd being League
runners up & Cup winners.  Well done to all.

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 Division 2 Charity Cup Night 

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The 5^th July saw BCII collect their first trophy, as they finished the season with a flourish to reach the
SLC Charity Cup Final, producing some of the best football seen all year.

 Drawn in Pool A alongside Athletico Shenley and Dawson Group (placed third and fourth in the league
respectively), Bunky’s seemed to be up against it but a magical performance from Daz enabled them
to drive forward and finish the Group top of the table.

 Pool B contained the Div. 2 League Winners Crownhill Vauxhall, plus runners-up MK Utd and also Timmy Tigers.

 Bunky’s took to the pitch with a changed side, fielding Ritchie A. in goal, Neil and Gaz at the back, Mark
Rogers and Daz in midfield and Sean up front, and started well, knocking the ball around and creating
chances but it was Dawson who took the lead with a well struck shot from wide right which curled beyond
 Ritchie A. and into the corner.

 A few minutes later, a scrambled goal made it 2-0 and although BCII immediately struck back with a
hammer from Daz into the top of the net, a draw was realistically the best expectation at this stage.

 Bunky’s continued to play great football, working the ball well and shortly before the half-way stage, Daz
again broke through to level.

 It was then that Bunky’s really turned on the style.

 Daz completed his hat-trick after a superb build up by deftly knocking the ball past the keeper and then
added a fourth.  Sean made it 5-2, Daz AGAIN scored and Sean (desperate not to be outdone) again scored 
to make it SEVEN, (strangely, his 7^th goal for BCII in his 7^th start …).

 A remarkable come-back and a victory that put Bunky’s firmly in the driving seat for qualification.

 The opening game in Pool B saw MK Utd beat Crownhill 3-0, although the final score did not reflect how
close the match was.

 Game Two and in Pool A, Athletico and Dawsons draw 0-0 in a closely fought game (with Shenley players
 constantly reminding anyone who would listen during play that they had never experienced a goalless scoreline),
 whilst MK Utd drew against Timmy’s Tigers 1-1 in Pool B to secure their place in the semi-finals.

The final games of the group stage saw Bunkys play Athletico. The earlier draw between Athletico and Dawsons
meant that Bunky’s were already through to the semi-final – but nonetheless, a game against the key rivals is always
worth something.

 In a closely fought battle, that saw Russ replace Gaz and Richard Moss replace Sean, Bunky’s again played well to
earn a 1-1 draw, coming from a goal down with another strike from Daz, meaning that BCII had won the group, with
Athletico finishing as runners-up.

 The final game in Pool B saw Timmy’s Tigers fail to beat Crownhill and challenge for top spot but a draw secured
their place as the second placed team and meant they would line up opposite Bunky’s in the other semi-final.

 In the first semi, MK Utd finally began to find their form with a 3-1 win over Athletico and so they moved into
 the final as firm favourites, eager to see who they would play.

 BCII unfortunately failed to find their form and looked shaky from the start as Timmy’s went a goal up relatively
 quickly, yet some fine work by Ritchie A. in goal and true team spirit meant they always looked likely to get
something and that man Daz provided it again, equalising with his 7^th of the night to force penalities.

 BCII won the toss and Mark Rogers elected to shoot second. Timmy’s scored their first and, unbelievably, Daz
missed Bunky’s kick. Timmys scored again to make it 2-0 and Sean then pulled it back to 2-1.

 Onto the third kicks – but a fine stop from Ritchie A. gave Bunky’s a chance to level, which they did as Gaz slotted home.

 The next two penalties were scored, Bunky’s by Richard Moss, but the final kicks saw Timmy’s crash the
ball over the bar and with Mark Rogers coolly putting away the fifth BC penalty to win the tie 4-3, Bunkys were
 set for a final showdown with MK Utd.

 Unfortunately, as the game started, it became evident that BCII were still unable to recapture the form shown
 in the group stage and MK Utd capitalised on the sloppy control, defending and goalkeeping to take a commanding
 3-0 lead. Although BCII did create chances and Sean managed to pull one back, it proved to be academic as MK
Utd scored a fourth and ran out 4-1 winners.

 Still, as Bunky’s No.3, Russellbaink was keen to point out (before, during and after the game), “… it’s all about
trophies and we’ve got another”. So at least that’s clear.