England lift o50s Home Nations trophy!!

Sunday 9th June 2024

After the final round of matches in the o50s Home Nations International Tournament, hosted by the Wales Veterans' Football Association and sponsored by WorkwearSupermarket.com, England defeated the hosts and lifted the 2024 Home Nations trophy....... writes a pitch-side reporter.......

Wales 0, England 3
Manager, Rogan Matthews, sent out his charges knowing that they only needed a point against a well-organised England squad to clinch the title....and although they started strongly, they were caught out by a speedy English counter-attack and Finning stroked home. The visitors capitalised on further uncertainty in the Welsh rear-guard and Hollamby made it 2-0 going the break.

England, above all, play as a team and are always difficult to beat! Time and again they frustrated the energetic Welsh and then comfortably retained possession and waited to take advantage of an error....and this duly came when, once again, indecision in the Wales back-line was punished by an alert Finning, who notched his second and put the game beyond the hosts. Wales pressed forward defiantly and Kennedy hit the bar when well-placed but the visitors were indefatigable and held on for a comfortable win. They gratefully accepted the WorkwearSupermarket.com o50s Home Nations Trophy from FAW Vice-President, Mark Adams.

Scotland 3, Northern Ireland 1
In entertaining match between Northern Ireland and Scotland, the latter took a deserved 3 points to finish above their opponents in the o50s Home Nations International table. Scotland scored through Cameron, Taylor and Manson. Milligan replied for Northern Ireland, who also hit the woodwork 3 times.

Saturday 8th June 2024
Wales 3 Northern Ireland 2
The hosts made it two from two when they defeated Northern Ireland in their second game. In an open, exciting game the visitors shocked their opponents when midfielder, James Tenant scored after just 8 minutes. Chris Summers levelled shortly afterwards and then put the hosts ahead with his second on the half-hour. Ricky John extended their lead halfway through the second half and although Alan Wells converted a penalty for the Irish, Wales held on for a confidence boosting win before they face England in their final game on Sunday at 12pm.

Scotland 1, England 1
With a tight match between Scotland and England ending all-square, Wales moved to the top of the table with a match to go. Sean Barr scored for the Scots a quarter of an hour in and they held out until Daren Pearce equalised with 10 minutes remaining. Scotland face Northern Ireland on Sunday at 12pm.

Friday June 7th
Wales 3, Scotland 1
Wales faced a Scotland side, re-joining the tournament after several years absence but soon found themselves 1 goal down when Summers drove home after good work by Francis and McClarnan. The hosts had the better of the first half with Davies and Francis causing problems down the flanks, but it was habitual scorer, Williams who, after missing two earlier chances, seized onto a through ball and slid home expertly past the helpless Scottish gloveman, Anderson. The visitors pressed for parity, but were guilty of too many over-hit passes on the speedy Leckwith surface, although a superb save from Welsh keeper, Bailey, helped to maintain Wales 2-0 lead going into the break.

In the second half Scotland made a real game of it, striking both the post and then crossbar before the central defender headed home powerfully from a free-kick. Wales however made the game safe when Legg instantly controlled a long-ball forward, before playing a sublime reverse pass to Tranter, who crossed for an alert Kennedy to crash home to make the final score 3-1 to Rogan Matthews' charges and they face Northern Ireland on Saturday at 2pm.

England 2, N. Ireland 0
An ‘accomplished’ performance by an England side who controlled much of the game, with central defender, Price outstanding. England scored a goal in each half but the margin could have been greater but for some brave Irish defending and some wasteful finishing by England, who face Scotland on Saturday at 2pm

[i]Comiserations to the following players who were selected to represent Wales Veterans' Football...
Jon Bailey (GK) - Merthyr Tydfil Vets
Neil Bryant (GK) - Llanelli Town Vets
Chris Thomas - Llanelli Town Vets
Shane Davies - Merthyr Tydfil Vets
Andrew Legg - Llanelli Town Vets
Steve Blackford - Llanelli Town Vets
Robert Lewis - Merthyr Tydfil Vets
Nigel Delaney - Llanelli Town Vets
Ian Burman - Newport Vets
Simon Rocke - Llanelli Town Vets
Carl McClarnan - Llanelli Town Vets
Karl Miller - Penybont Vets
Neale Richards - Llanelli Town Vets
Russ Wigley - The Continental Vets
Nick Francis - Merthyr Tydfil Vets
Micheal Walsh - Briton Ferry Vets
Anthony Smith - Merthyr Tydfil Vets
Carl Evans - Ponthir Vets
Chris Summers - The Continental Vets
Neil Williams - Llanelli Town Vets
John-Paul Kennedy - Swansea Vets
Phil Tranter - Barry Town Vets
Ricky John - Merthyr Tydfil Vets