Foursome Wolves are Masters

Wolves defended their Midlands crown by defeating Villa 2-1 in Saturday's final and will now attempt to defend their national championship at Liverpool in September.

But Italian star Carbone made a surprise return to Claret and Blue and wowed the crowd at the National Indoor Arena with his seven goals, sealing the leading scorer's trophy and his array of skills landing the player-of-the-tournament award.

The 37-year-old helped Villa top the round-robin group but it was second-placed Wolves who had the last laugh as goals from Don Goodman and Darren Roberts gave them victory in the final. Alan Wright was on target for Villa.

Wolves captain Goodman said: "I don't know what the secret is but I think that was the hardest Masters yet and that makes it the best effort yet by the lads."

An eventful evening kept the NIA crowd entertained with injuries playing a regular part.

Walsall assistant manager Martin O'Connor had to don the gloves for an emergency stint in goal for Birmingham after keeper Kevin Poole was injured in the first game against Wolves.

O'Connor made two fine saves but Poole was back for Blues' remaining games after treatment. And the evening came to an early end for Albion's Wayne Fereday, who needed stitches in a head wound after falling and hitting his head on the floor.

Goodman said: "We had stitches in a head wound, we had ankle injuries and a lot of lads will be struggling to walk afterwards.

"It's the only competitive football that we really get. We play in charity games but that's not competitive.

"This is proper competitive football and we all miss that as well as the banter in the dressing room, which we get an opportunity to get once or twice a year if we're successful."

Carbone was a late addition to the tournament after being recruited by ex-Villa captain Ian Taylor.

And the Italian, who still plays professionally for AC Pavia in the second division in his homeland, revealed he still keeps an eye on the fortunes of Martin O'Neill's side.

"It's the best thing that has happened in the last four or five years," he said. "It's great to be back in England and back in a Villa shirt.

"I enjoyed the games and played well and I enjoyed being with the team. I'm sorry we lost the final and I would have preferred to win the team trophy than my own trophy.

"Ian Taylor called me in Italy and I packed straight away and came back. I am still playing football back in Italy in the second division but I would prefer to be back in England.

"Playing for Villa was a dream for me and the fans were fantastic. I always watch Villa and the Premier League back in Italy."

Albion again had a disappointing Masters night but the tournament ended on a high as they defeated Wolves in the final group match. And ex-Hawthorns midfielder Andy Johnson, who made his Masters debut, enjoyed the occasion. "It was fantastic," said Johnson, who has just been appointed player-assistant-manager at Kings Lynn, working under former Baggies striker Carl Heggs.

"I have a couple of mates who are Albion fans and I had phonecalls beforehand saying they were really excited about seeing me play. I couldn't sleep in the morning because I was buzzing and playing in an Albion shirt again was absolutely fantastic.

"The club is always going to have a special place in my heart whatever I do as my life."

Results – group matches

Blues 1 (Paul Devlin) Wolves 2 (Phil Robinson, Don Goodman)

Villa 2 (Benito Carbone 2) Albion 1 (Bob Taylor)

Albion 1 (Andy Johnson) Blues 3 (Graham Hyde, Mark Cooper, Tommy Mooney)

Villa 4 (Carbone 3, Alan Wright) Wolves 4 (Darren Roberts, Goodman, Robinson, Mick Gooding)

Blues 1 (Devlin) Villa 5 (Bryan Small, Carbone 2, Ian Taylor, Mark Kinsella)

Wolves 1 (Goodman) Albion 2 (Daryl Burgess, Johnson)

Final

Wolves 2 (Goodman, Roberts) Villa 1 (Wright)