Town's Masters cast aside memories of last year's disappointing performance by winning the 2002 Southern Masters at the London Arena. Last summer's goal-shy over-35s were this season's top goalmongers, netting four in each game.

In the group stage the Blues (clad in the old seventies away strip of yellow shirts
and blue shorts) took on Spurs who were beaten 4-2, the goals coming from Milton, Atkins, Dozzell and Guentchev.

The second game saw Town face an Arsenal side featuring Brian Talbot, with our lads again winning 4-2, scorers O'Shea (OG), Milton (2) and Dozzell.

Group game three ended Ipswich 4-4 Millwall, Jason Dozzell and Paul Mason scoring two each.

That meant that the Blues would face Spurs in the final. With just a couple of minutes left and the score at 3-3, Player of the Tournament Simon Milton latched on to a Bontcho Guentchev cross and walloped the winner into the roof of the net from point-blank range. Town's earlier goals had been scored by Brennan, Dozzell and Putney.

A chuffed Milton told TWTD he was relieved not to be returning to Portman Road after another scoreless performance: "I can go to work on Monday now! Last year we played some good stuff but just couldn't score. This time we got the goals too."

Milton revealed he got in some practice earlier in the week: "I trained with the Academy on Thursday and it went quite well. Mind you, I'm knackered now."

The midfielder says that the addition of two younger players had a lot to do with Town's change in fortune: "Jason Dozzell and Paul Mason made a lot of difference, as well as new manager Phil Parkes."

The Town Masters will now play in the Grand Final on Sunday, September 8th at the MEN Arena, Manchester. They will face John Wark's formidable Liverpool side as well as Coventry, Manchester United, Leeds, Newcastle, Hibs and the winners of Sunday's second London Masters tournament which features Chelsea, West Ham, Fulham and Charlton.

Milton, who feels scoring the winner in the final was the highlight of the evening, thought he might be unavailable for the final tournament: "I'll be out of the country in the week before and thought I'd miss it. But I spoke to Paul Allen (Ex-West Ham) who runs it and he says they'll fly me in to Manchester in time for it!

"I definitely want to be involved and come up against Warky and Liverpool as well as Manchester United and the rest."

Triumphant Town squad: Jon Hallworth, Ian Atkins, Paul Mason, Mark Brennan, Trevor Putney, Kevin Steggles, Simon Milton, Jason Dozzell, Neil Woods and Bontcho Guentchev. Manager Phil Parkes.

Photo: Action Images

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