Wales o60s defeat strong England squad!

The Wales Veterans' Football Association welcomed an England squad to the Ocean Park Arena, Cardiff for an o60s international match ...and Wales deservedly lifted the ‘Frank Terrel Memorial Cup’ following a highly competitive and skilful encounter ....writes a pitch-side reporter....

This fixture is always keenly contested and the visitors have had the better of recent encounters, but Wales started on the front foot in this match and the engine room of Huish, Bobbett and Griffiths were quickly into their stride, feeding dangerous wide men Vaughn and Thomas on the left and Mele and Murray on the right. In fact, throughout the first half, dangerous crosses were being fired across the English area, regrettably just evading lone striker White, who was unlucky not to put Wales into a deserved lead before the interval.

Wales brought on Marshall, Craig Jones and Otway for the second half and the instruction from manager Parkinson was for “more of the same”, but an ‘experienced’ England side, bursting with former professionals made some clever tactical changes, which caused confusion in the Welsh ranks and put them under immediate pressure. Fortunately, ‘centre-back pairing’ Mark Jones and captain, and MoM, Medwin (pictured), were in imperious form and quelled any potential threat. Wales were still dangerous and when Vaughn broke forward and fed Thomas, his superb cross was smashed home gleefully by Otway from close-in. Minutes later Mark Jones thought he’d put Wales 2 up, but was denied by the official. The visitors now pressed forward purposefully for an equaliser, defenders Kowalski and Cleaver entered the frey to help stem the tide, and only a superb point-blank save by obstreperous stopper, John Jones, kept the scores level....and Wales held on for a hard-fought, but deserved win.

After the match manager, Jon Parkinson, congratulated his charges, commenting “this was an outstanding team performance and one we can really look to build-on for the Home Nations tournament in Northern Ireland in March 2024.”

Congratulations to the following players...
John Jones(K) - Barry Town
Cameron Medwin - Swansea (Capt)
Mark Jones - Barry Town
Dave Murray - Barry Town
Steve Thomas – Newport
Alun Huish Barry Town
Dave Griffiths Newport
Mike Bobbett Barry Town
Gary Vaughn Newport
Jeff white Pontyclun
Pepe Mele Pontyclun

Craig Jones Merthyr Tydfil
Barry Marshall Barry Town
Henryk Kowalski Swansea
Chris Cleaver Merthyr Tydfil
Alan Meacham(K) Swansea
Rob Seago Swansea
Kevin Brown Barry Town