Convincing wins against the RAF in Cardiff!

The Wales Veterans' Football Association hosted two veterans’ football matches in the o40s and o50s age categories, against great friends and rivals, the Royal Air Force at Cardiff’s Ocean Park Arena on February 8th 2025 and came away with two convincing victories.

In the first game, Wales o50s recorded an emphatic win against their opponents...writes Andrew York....Wales started the game in a 3-5-2 formation and dominated the early exchanges with some lovely passages of play, MoM Neil Williams finding space in the 10 position and threading balls through for the forward line, which resulted in RAF conceding a penalty around the 15 min mark, which Williams duly converted. The midfield three of Steve Powell, Richards, Williams and wing backs Lewis and Owen continued to dominate play and create chances and on the 25 min mark, the energetic John finished well to make it 2-0. On the half-hour mark the hosts made 4 changes, bringing on, Smith, Tranter, Evans and White, and they continued to dominate and after some lovely build up play Smith scored from just outside the box to make it 3-0 at HT.

On the hour mark, Wales made four more changes, and goals continued to flow, Tranter who was causing problems for the RAF defence with his pace bagged 2 and the ever-reliable John Paul Kennedy completed the scoring. York was obviously pleased with “a very good performance overall, from all involved.”

Congratulations to the following o50s players (and their clubs) who were selected by Manager, York...
Chris Williams - Nelson
Marc Boulton - Merthyr
Dyfri Owen - Continental
Shane Davies - Merthyr
Karl Miller - Penybont
Ian Burmam - Continental
Steve Powell - Penybont
Neale Richards - Llanelli Town
Neil Williams - Llanelli Town
Robbie Lewis - Merthyr
John-Paul Kennedy - Swansea
Ricky John - Merthyr
Anthony Smith - Merthyr
Phil Tranter - Barry Town
Carl Evans - Merthyr
Steve White – Merthyr

The o40s faced an o35s RAF outfit but were able to secure a comfortable victory....writes Laurence Owen...The hosts controlled the game from start to finish with some good individual performances. Goals from Pike, Keddle and Sean Jones gave us a very comfortable victory and although the visitors scored a late deflected consolation, it was pretty much their only shot of the game.

The scoreline would have been more emphatic but for RAF keeper, Lancaster, who was in sparkling form and MoM Keddle was also unlucky to have 2 further goals ruled-out for offside.

Laurence was pleased with the performance and complemented the RAF "who never gave in, but never looked likely to register the win as they did in December 2022....the last team to beat one of my o40s side."

Congratulations to the following players (and their clubs) who were selected by o40s Manager, Owen...

Johnathon Howe - Ferndale
Neil Thomas - Barry Town
Adie Evans - Ponthir
Alun Williams - Llanelli Town
Cei Mason - Ferndale
Mark Dodds (c) - Cardiff Corries
Jamie Hillier - Ponthir
Lewis Summer - Ponthir
Liam Screen - Ponthir
Nathan Williams - Penydarren
Paul Keddle - Penydarren
Sam Brown - Llanelli Town
Scott Pike - Penydarren
Sean Jones - Llanelli Town
Matthew Hughes - Llanelli Town
Wayne Williams - Llanelli Town