Rex United celebrate their 2-1 win that sealed the Bill Price Memorial Cup

FAR from being extinct, the dinos soared at Hackney Marshes at the weekend as they captured their first trophy since forming as a football club five years ago.

Rex United ran out 2-1 winners against Forestside FC on the South Marsh show pitch to clinch the Camden Sunday League’s Bill Price Memorial Cup.

Hotshot Basil Benoiton was crowned the man of the match after bagging a brace. The forward opened the scoring midway through the first half when he slid in at the far post to convert Daniel Zena’s cross. Benoiton doubled his tally minutes into the second half when he raced on to Joe Rinvolucri’s defence-splitting pass and finished with aplomb.

There was also a special mention for Hector Marshall, who was voted “Dino of the Day” by his teammates after putting in “an inspirational” display in the middle of the park.

“All of the boys put in a great shift and we’re all really happy with the performance,” said Dinos captain Miccy Barnes. “We had control for the majority of the game, ending the first half 1-0 up and then scoring again early in the second.

Basil Benoiton

“Forestside then converted a penalty which made for a tense final 25 minutes. What was initially a fairly comfortable game suddenly became a cagey and tense one, but we managed to ride out the wave. While you always want to win games by a wider margin, it definitely made for a good spectacle and there was pure elation when the final whistle went.”

Rex United were originally formed as a seven-a-side team by a group of friends from Stoke Newington, and have grown to an 11-a-side Sunday league squad that now also includes players from Islington and Crouch End.

With a Tyrannosaurus Rex on their badge, the club actually took their name from one of their friends who had a short-lived rap career under the alias “Rex Boy”.

Thanking fans who showed up pitchside to cheer the Dinos on to their first silverware success, Miccy added: “All of the boys were absolutely flying after we won – a moment made all the better by the fact that it was a lovely sunny day and there was a great showing of support from friends and family. It’s easily the most people we’ve ever had at a game and we’re really appreciative of everyone who came down.

“It undoubtedly added to the atmosphere and the boys all rose to the occasion. Hopefully this will be the first of many trophies on Rex’s upward trajectory.”