o65s WorkwearSupermarket.com League

12th March
In the last round of WorkwearSupermarket.com o65s League programme, three teams were still in with a shot at the title.....but congratulations to Barry Town who leap-frogged Penybont to lift the trophy.

Newport 1, Swansea 0
In the last round of matches in the WorkwearSupermarket.com o65s League at Bryntirion Park, one of the pre-tournament favourites, Newport, finally got a win under their belts. In a very competitive, but evenly-fought encounter, both sides had opportunities to score, but the defensive units were on top today and the game remained scoreless at the interval! With the Swans keenly keeping an eye on the Barry scoreline, Compton seized on a defensive mix-up, to put Newport ahead and despite a strong rally by the Swans in the second half, some resolute defending, particularly by the impressive Jordan, Swansea’s efforts to take the title sadly faded....as events on the adjacent pitch unfolded......

Barry Town 9, Merthyr Tydfil 1
Barry started the game knowing they had to score 4 or more, and score more than the Swans in the adjacent match to claim the title. Barry dominated from the whistle with Branch and Stu Evans orchestrating, and Mackay proving a handful up front, and having several chances to score even before he finally gave his side the lead on 15 minutes. Goals then flowed on a fairly regular basis. Mackay completed a fine hat-trick, Stu Evans completed a MOTM performance with an astute brace, Kev Brown also scored a brace before a mix-up in the Barry defence allowed Merthyr’s best player, Pope to grab a consolation. 76 year old Lennon entered the frey with 15 minutes remaining and finished a fine move with aplomb...a carbon copy minutes from time, this time crashed home by Miles completed the scoring and Barry secured the WorkwearSupermarket.com o65s League title!

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20th February
Penybont 5, Newport 0
In the 4th round of matches in the WorkwearSupermarket.com o65s League at Bryntirion Park, the ‘hosts’ recorded an emphatic win against a depleted Newport. Paul Morgan grabbed a hat-trick and namesake, Peter just the two this week and their side now sit at the top of the table and now can only sit and wait for the outcome of the final set of matches. It was great to see Les Davies making an appearance after his recent heath scare, but he and teammate Roberts were untroubled against their toothless opponents.

Swansea 1, Barry Town 1
Barry dominated much of this game but a combination of weak shooting and strong goalkeeping by Swansea ‘gloveman’ Meacham, meant the game remained scoreless at half-time. The Swans lost the talismanic Fisher to injury and the second half continued in a similar vein to the first. Inevitably, Swansea’s first real ‘sojourn’ forward resulted in indecision in the Barry defence and striker, Stockton gratefully arrowed the ball into the corner of the net. Gibb drove his Barry teammates forward and the game became very one-sided, particularly when Tovey was dismissed for a second ‘agricultural’ challenge on the dangerous Bobbett in as many minutes. Brown finally made the breakthrough with a clever finish and although Barry pressed for the winner, Swansea defended defiantly, with ‘Nobby’ Edwards outstanding and the game finished all-square. The title will be decided with the last set of fixtures in March.

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16th January 2024
Penybont 2, Barry Town 2
The ‘hosts’ pressed from the outset with the pacey Peter Morgan and Veasey always dangerous against a Barry side clearly missing the pace and determination of Gibb at the back. They could have been two ahead inside 10 minutes, but for the heroics of John Jones in the Barry goal. Penybont finally took a deserved lead when a free kick was deflected home by Morgan and minutes later, the same player, forced Jones into a finger-tip save which kept his lackluster colleagues in the game. Inspired by captain Branch, Barry finally started to link-up and press forward and Bobbett put a great opportunity wide after being found well by Bowker. He was subsequently subjected to some ‘agricultural’ defending before finally making a break-through with a composed finish - to take the sides in 1-1 at the interval.

In the second period Barry, now playing downhill, were much the better side, albeit not as fluent as usual, but it was good to see both Tim Morgan and Paul Williams, both returning to action after their recent serious health scares. Stu Evans was unfortunate to see his super strike crash against the bar, but at the other end, Morgan was still troubling the Barry back line and with 5 minutes remaining, he chased a long clearance, evaded two flimsy challenges and squared a pass to Veasey, who gleefully tapped home. Barry poured forward, and when Bobbett seized onto a Branch through ball, he salvaged a point for his side with a clinical finish.

Merthyr Tydfil 3, Swansea 5
A well contested and entertaining game swung to and fro throughout. O’Sullivan put Merthyr ahead before Phil Fisher equalised with a superb strike on the volley. Pope put Merthyr back in front after good work by Newton and Challenger, but a Fisher penalty minutes later, drew his side level. Leigh put the Swans ahead going into the break, calmly placing the ball beyond Merthyr gloveman, Searl.

Swansea pressed in the second half and squandered a number of chances before they were hit on the break by a two pass move which allowed Thompson to crash the ball past Swans keeper, Meacham, to make it all square on the hour mark. Swansea, however, regained the upper hand when Fisher completed his hat-trick after a jinking run and Leigh completed the scoring with his second from close range finish with minutes remaining in what was a great advert for o65s football.

5th December
Merthyr Tydfil 1, Penybont 2
An even game ended with the Peter Morgan scoring the winner for the ‘hosts’ with minutes remaining...writes a pitch-side reporter...
Penybont started well and Jason Morgan put them ahead on 12 minutes, gathering the ball on the half-way line and beating several defenders before striking home. Merthyr remained defiant and the score remained 1-0 half time.

Patrick Pope equalised for Merthyr midway through the 2nd half and they had a great opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty after keeper Braham had infringed, but Pope hit the spot kick past the post. With 2 minutes remaining Peter Morgan capitalised on a defensive error to secure a win for the Penybont and move them to the top of the WorkwearSupermarket.com o65s League going into Christmas.

Barry Town 3, Newport 0
A strong and fluent first half performance by Barry, orchestrated by captain, Steve Branch, was capped by goals from Bowker, Stu Evans and Bobbett, despite the efforts of Abbott and James who worked tirelessly to stem the tide. Kev Brown hit an upright after a customary mazy run but his team still took a comfortable 3 nil lead into the interval.

Newport were much better after the break with Compton, Diaper, Gerry Jones and Gartside doing their best to gain parity, but Barry’s defensive line of Gibb, Paul Williams, Blackaby and Kev Brown were rarely troubled, although keeper, John Jones got down well to deny Gartside. Barry should have extended their lead after another strong spell with Bobbett, Petersen, Evans and Parkin all going close...but the game ended 3-0 in favour of the current WorkwearSupermarket.com o65s League holders.

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24th October
As the opening matches of the WorkwearSupermarket.com o60s League season finally got underway...many of the Wales Veterans’ FA elite were on show....

Penybont 0 - 0 Swansea
A strong ‘home’ side, bolstered by the availability of o65s ‘debutant’ Les Davies, dominated much of the first half and although Jason and Peter Morgan were both prominent, Swansea were resilient and Penybont failed to breach Alan Meacham’s goal.
With luminaries including Mick Algieri and Peter Laffan in their ranks, the ‘Swans’ were likely to improve, and in the second half this was the case....but they will be the happier team after the game finished scoreless.

Newport 1 - 1 Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr started well against a strong Newport team and missed several opportunities to take the lead, but when they were reduced to eight men following the loss Jim Hall to injury, Newport were then able to dictate the tempo of the game and boasted the lion’s share of possession...they also failed to capitalise and the game remained scoreless at the interval.
In the second half, and despite Merthyr's indomitability, the ‘majestic’ Gerry Jones finally broke the deadlock, putting Newport ahead on the hour. Merthyr would not be denied however, and debutant, Ray Sharpe, was on hand to complete a fluent passage of play and both teams had to be content with a share of the spoils.