Bartolome Mas can’t lead his team to victory
Port of London, managed by former Dagenham & Redbridge utility man Bartolome ‘Tolo’ Mas, were on the wrong side of a seven-goal thriller in the Essex Saturday Veterans Cup on Wednesday night as Hutton Old Boys came out on top.
Hutton were forced to come from behind at Stanway Rovers Hawthorns Stadium to earn a three-goal triumph.
Mas and another former Daggers player David Jacques started the final, but couldn’t inspire their team to victory.
Arron Wright netted twice in the first half to put Port of London ahead. However PLA conceded on two occasions before the break to come in trailing and they eventually lost 5-2.
Hutton took the lead when Troy Braham slid the ball into the path of Tommy Block and he centrered for Michael Bollands to stroke home from 12-yards-out.
PLA were slowly getting back into the encounter and registered their first real attempt mid-way through the half when Steve Howlett blasted wide from outside the area.
Shortly afterwards they did get back on level terms when Wright scored a stunning goal.
He embarked on a dazzling run from midfield and, although he got some fortunate with a pass ricocheting off a Hutton defender and back to him, he smashed into the bottom right-hand corner.
Port of London had all the momentum now and took the lead when Lee Teagle picked out Wright, and he found the bottom corner for the second successive time.
That was as good as it got for PLA, though, as Hutton captain Leli Bajada equalised after his team had hit the crossbar.
On the stroke of half time Mas conceded a free kick on the edge of his own box and Black’s effort took a wicked deflection and found the net.
The next goal was always going to be decisive and although it didn’t come until the 75th minute, it didn’t go the way of Port of London.
Bajada was able to fire into the net and Bollands added his second shortly afterwards to confirm PLA would be runners-up.
Hutton Old Boys: Craig Daniels, Andrew Grant, Paul Golby, Danny Cooley, Michael Gonzague, Troy Barham, Michael Bollands, Leli Bajada, Tommy Black, Michael Black, Jamie Wallace. Substitutes (repeated): Trevor Paul, Glenn Knight, Ray Coker, Greg Wiles, Kevin McTasney.
Port of London: Alan Moore, David Jacques, Steve Howlett, Neil Keaveney, Roy Edwards, Bartolome Mas, Paul Sullivan, Anthony Gill, Martin Carthy, Arron Wright, Lee Teagle. Substitutes (repeated): James Doherty, James Gill, David Stittle.
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