o55s WorkwearSupermarket.com CUP

19th May – Cup final
Merthyr Tydfil 2, Swansea 3
A game of two halves at a sweltering Leckwith Campus with WorkwearSupermarket.com o55s League champions taking a deserved 2-0 lead against their dis-jointed opponents, who also lost two players to injury to exacerbate their problems! Merthyr were looking odds-on to lift the trophy after Carpanini and Walker put them 2 nil up at the interval.

A goal by Mark Stephen, minutes into the second half gave Swansea a big lift. Subsequent use of a strong bench and superior fitness was also telling, as substitute Fredrickson scored with two fine strikes, the first into an empty net from 35 yards. Congratulations to Swansea, so often, the ‘nearly’ men of Wales Veterans’ Football, who lifted the WorkwearSupermarket.com o55s CUP...which will sit nicely alongside their WorkwearSupermarket.com o60s League and cup double trophies!

5th May
Merthyr Tydfil 2, Barry Town 1
A fine, tight game at The Bont was finally decided by a slightly ‘fortunate’ winner, but it’s the hosts who progress to the WorkwearSupermarket.com o55s CUP final. Merthyr were quick out of the blocks, Owen, Carpanini and Clive Evans prominent and the latter gave his side an early lead, tapping home a rebound from close-in. The visitors reacted well and even after losing three players to injury, Warren Jones still forced Merthyr keeper, Bailey, into a superb save, to keep his side’s advantage at the interval. The game continued to ebb and flow but with little real goal-mouth activity, Barry’s man-marking tactic clearly frustrating the hosts, and when Martin James drew the sides level with a 30yard screamer, penalties looked on the cards. With 10 minutes remaining Evans drilled in a cross from the left with real venom...evading ‘everyone’....a corner was awarded and an unfortunate Paul Davies headed into his own net to give the hosts a final meeting with Swansea on 19th May.

Swansea 4, Llanelli Town 1
The hosts earned a place in the WorkwearSupermarket.com o55s CUP final after of a convincing display at Penyrheol. Stamp gave the visitors the lead on twenty minutes but the Swans led 2-1 at the interval courtesy of Gay and player/manager, Keith Williams. The hosts continued to control affairs and two further goals from Toms and Stephen, secured their place in the final against League winners, Merthyr on 19th May at Leckwith Campus

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7th April
Cardiff Academicals 1, Llanelli Town 2
An entertaining game of football at Cardiff University Fields, which, on balance, the visitors had the upper hand from the start. Reds opened the scoring from a fine ball played across the box by Huw Davies which was duly despatched by Linsey Stamp from close range. Paul Welsh levelled for the hosts soon after with a confident strike and it stayed at 1-1 going into halftime.
In the second half the Reds dominated possession and continued to create opportunities and with 15 mins remaining Neil Waters let fly from range, it clattered the inside of the post but fell kindly to Vaughan Jones, who tapped home to secure the Reds first win of the season, which they suitably celebrated! They can now look forward a trip to neighbours Swansea in the WorkwearSupermarket.com o55s CUP semi-final on 5th May.

Barry Town 6, Penybont 1
A great advert for veterans’ football at Bro Morgannwg with a number of players 60+ excelling for both sides. But it was debutant, Warren Jones who made the headlines as the hosts secured their place in the semi-final and in the 15th minute he crossed for Warman to crash home. Habitual scorer, Lewis, got the visitors back on terms but Barry then took control, moving the ball quickly forward and enabling Jones to get himself on the scoresheet with a fine finish, 2-1 at the break.

The hosts continued to press and Cooksey saw his fine shot rip into the top corner. Jones was now tormenting the Penybont defence with his pace and accuracy and he clipped in a fine second goal to give his team a buffer. Lewis should have reduced the deficit, but Barry keeper, John Jones saved well. Cooksey then had 2 golden opportunities to extend the hosts lead, but fluffed his lines...he made amends minutes later, squaring for Brown to tap home before Bobbett raced through to complete the scoring and secure an away tie to Merthyr Tydfil on 5th May.

Merthyr Tydfil 3, Newport 2
The visitors jumped into a 2 – 0 lead against the WorkwearSupermarket.com o55s League champions with goals by Thompson and Fredriksen. The hosts fought back however, and scored through Carpanini and a Clive Evans brace, including a winner in the last few minutes. They now welcome Barry Town to Penydarren Park for the semi-final on 5th May.

Pontyclun 2, Swansea 4
This tie took a while to warm up, but the second half was a goal-fest at the Maritime in Pontypridd, featuring a hat-trick from Richard Gay for the visitors. Fredrickson was also on target for the Swans who now host neighbours, Llanelli Town in the semi-final on 5th May. Mele and White were on target for ‘Clun.