Les Davies hat-trick wins it for Wales o65s!

The Wales Veterans' Football Association accepted an invitation to send an o65s squad to face England at Solihull Moors FC on 3rd May 2024 and they returned home triumphant... writes a pitch-side reporter...

After an onerous 5 hour journey to the West Midlands, it was astonishing to see the visitors start on the front-foot...with central partners, Gibb and Roberts in commanding form, and Branch and Davies linking well with strikers Compton and Mackay, nevertheless, they were unable to create anything of note in the final third, mainly due to a masterly performance by debutant England defender, Roughsedge, and keeper, Kirk, was mostly untested. Typically, the hosts started to grind-into-gear, using the greater physicality of Lloyd and Groom to feed the imperious Coffill, who in turn played several dissecting passes which tested the Welsh resolve. Inevitably, and despite protestations from ‘Le petit General’, one of Coffill’s passes defeated the offside trap, found England striker, Powell who calmly planted the ball past Welsh gloveman, Meacham and England were ahead going into half-time.

During the interval, the management, although pleased with the overall performance, demanded greater physicality AND better ball retention....and how they delivered....

Wales started with real vigour, winning several tackles against their bigger opponents AND subsequently kept the ball well! An aggressive intervention by Gibb, saw the ball spiral high to the edge of the England penalty area where, Morgan, making an immediate impact cushioning the ball expertly for Les Davies, to rifle home, left-footed, from 22 yards. Wales were visibly lifted and they pressed forward with intent. An inch perfect corner from Evans was met full-on by Davies and he powered his header into the net. The visitors were now well in control, keeping the ball for minutes at a time and frustrating the opposition...and keeping the crowd quiet! Perseverance by the debilitated, but inimitable Bobbett allowed him to square across the penalty area to an unmarked Davies who crashed home with his right, for his hat-trick and a superb win for the Dragons was secured. This completes an amazing story for Les Davies who, less than 6 months ago, suffered a heart attack and today completes a man-of-the-match performance with the ‘perfect’ hat-trick!

Congratulations to the following players for a ‘special’ peformance...

1. Alan Meacham, Age 69 (Swansea Vets)
2. Mike Roberts Age 67 (Penybont Vets)
3. Ian Thomson, Age 65 (Pontyclun and Merthyr Vets)
4. Ian Edwards, Age 66 (Swansea Vets)
5. Phil Gibb, Age 68 (Barry Town Vets)
6. John Jordan, Age 71 (Newport Vets)
7. Kev Brown, Age 67 (Barry Town Vets)
8. Les Davies, Age 65 (Penybont Vets)
9. Steve Branch, Age 67 (Barry Town Vets)
10. John Rowlands, Age 70 (Newport Vets)
11. Terry Compton, Age 69 (Newport Vets)
12. Stu Evans, Age 66 (Pontyclun and Barry Town Vets)
13. Mike Bobbett, Age 66 (Barry Town Vets)
14. Dick Steer, Age 66 (Penybont Vets)
15. Peter Morgan, Age 70 (Penybont Vets)
16. Stu Mackay, Age 66 (Barry Town Vets)

Manager: Alun Huish
Assts: Rob Seago & Leighton Gates
Kitman: Dave Eveleigh