WESTERN BUREAU:THE CURTAIN will come down on the 2006 Busta/Steve Bucknor Western Masters Football League at the UDC playing field this afternoon when defending champions Hanover Masters and newcomers Challenger square-off in the competition's final, starting at 3:30 p.m.
Based on form, quality of players and performances this season, the high-riding Hanover Masters, who have won the title every year since 2001, should start as the overwhelming favourites. However, the Challenger team, which has been quite flashy if not brilliant, is a confident outfit going into the game.
EXCITING CONTEST EXPECTED
"This is the kind of match-up that is bound to provide an exciting contest, " said Brian Miller, the chairman of the competition's steering committee. "Both teams have been playing fairly well all season and I am expecting both teams to give a very good account of them-selves," he said.
In a season in which they tasted their first defeat in five years, the Hanover Masters, dubbed 'The Nationals' because of the large number of former national players in their line-up, got into the final by virtue of their 2-1 semi-final aggregate win over Reno.
In the first leg game, they won 2-1 and were credited with a 0-0 result in the second leg when their opponents objected to the officiating of the referee and decided not to continue the game.
In their bid for victory today, the Hanover team will be banking on the likes of former national players Stennett Samms, Durrent Brown and Devon Ricketts alongside the likes of Conrod Hosang, Rodney Barr and Flaize Warren, who have all had distinguished schoolboy and club football careers.
Despite going into the game as the underdogs, Challenger, based on their impressive form, which saw them taste defeat only once in winning Zone B of the competition's preliminary round, must consider themselves as having a good chance to end Hanover's reign as champion.
MADE ADVANCE
In their semi-final showdown with the much-respected Violet Tourers, they drew the first leg game 0-0 and were trailing 1-0 with a minute to go in the second leg game.
However, a late strike by former national player Winston 'Tonto ' Henry forced the game into extra-time and penalties.
They subsequently won the penalty shoot-out 4-0 to advance to the final.
Prior to today's final, beaten semi-finalists Reno and Violet Tourers were slated to clash in the play-off for third place.
However, indications are that the Reno team, which is poised to face disciplinary action for its failure to complete the second leg semi-final fixture, is unlikely to show up.
