New year, new beginning.

Certainly, members of the Wolves pack must be thinking that way after their holiday thrashing of PHC in the Dudley Eve Trophy final.

The 7-1 two-leg aggregate score was the biggest in the history of the tournament and, it should be said, thoroughly deserved.

While the Zebras have been left to lick their wounds, few followers of local soccer will begrudge Dennis Brown and his men their moment of glory.

It's been a long time coming, but testament to the dedication and hard work shown by Brown and his charges who have carefully transformed a mediocre club into one that has the potential to become the next local powerhouse.

There's no doubt that the return from college of prolific marksman John Barry Nusum helped Wolves' cause.

Given his record at Furman College where he's carved out a reputation as one of the most feared strikers in US collegiate soccer, there's not a local club who wouldn't have benefited from his presence. And comparisons now being made with a young Shaun Goater might not be that far-fetched.

But Wolves' triumph wasn't all about Nusum.

The heroics of goalkeeper Corby Durrant arguably played as important a role in the team's success as Nusum's deadly finishing.

And central defender Anthony Thomas, Jared Peniston on the flanks and Jamal Simmons at right back can all take a lot of the credit.

Coach Brown, however, won't be content to sit on his laurels.

With the league race wide open and the FA Cup a realistic target, he'll be the first to admit that the Devonshire club still have plenty to prove.

And one area where he might like to see an improvement is in self-discipline.

Wolves might not have the worst red-yellow card record in the division, but nor have they the best.

Indeed, the sending-off twice of influential forward Khari Sharrieff during the Dudley Eve tournament and the absence of midfield player Chae Simmons for all but the first leg of the final - firstly, because he was sitting out the second half of a four-game suspension, and secondly, because he is suspended from St. George's Cricket Club and thus was ruled out of the second leg of the final - could have proved fatal under different circumstances.

That they survived those setbacks reflected strength of character reminiscent of Brown himself during his hey-day with Somerset when he was regarded as the grittiest of all local defenders.

If the boys in gold and black continue to show that fighting quality, the Dudley Eve might just be one of many trophies headed their way.

- ADRIAN ROBSON