Wales o65s unlucky to lose out to England!

The Wales Veterans' Football Association welcomed an England o65s squad to face their o65s Welsh squad at the SDM Stadium in Bridgend...and although England lifted the trophy, Wales were unlucky to lose....writes a pitch-side reporter...

The 'new' management team of Rob Seago and Leighton Gates were keen to make a winning start in their first 'international' match in charge...and their charges started with real intent, with Huish, Branch, Morgan, Bobbett and Evans influential and commanding the lion’s share of possession, but not threatening the visitor’s goal with lone striker, Steer, often left isolated. England, with their proliferation of ex-professionals on show, as always, looked after the ball well and gradually came into the game AND they were dangerous on the break, with striker, Powell, always a threat, but the game was 0-0 at the break and neither keeper had been overly troubled.

Seago and Gates introduced fresh legs for the second half, but during the third ‘quarter’ the visitors were the better side, earning several corners and forcing Welsh gloveman, Meacham, into action, including a brave punched clearance which left him prone in the penalty area for several minutes. England, inevitably, took the lead when a dynamic run by Powell caused a mix-up in the Welsh back-line, and when the same player crossed the ball into the 6-yard box, team-mate, Carlile, had a simple tap-in. Wales pressed forward for parity and put in a sparkling last 20 minute display with man-of-the-match, Les Davies, growing in influence along with the Welsh midfield and striker, White. In-fact England Keeper, Graham Cox, almost single-handedly kept the hosts at bay .......including a penalty from Jeff White and two ‘world class’ interventions, firstly, a superb, finger-tip save from Steve Branch’s 25 yard strike, after good work by White and Huish and then denying a would-be ‘wonder goal’ from Mike Bobbett, who acrobatically controlled a long ball from Mike Roberts before unleashing a volley goal-wards. But, England held on for the win, and their captain, and former Watford legend, Peter Coffill, accepted the Dermot Gallagher trophy from S4C’s Mark Jones.

Wales look forward with anticipation to the return match next year at St George’s. Congratulations to the following players who were selected...
Alan Meacham - Swansea (GK)
Mike Roberts - Penybont
Les Davies - Penybont
Mike Blackaby - Barry Town
Kevin Brown - Barry Town
Stu Evans - Barry Town
Alun Huish - Barry Town(Capt)
Steve Branch - Barry Town
Kevin James - Newport
Jason Morgan - Penybont
Dick Steer - Penybont
Jeff White - Pontyclun
Peter Morgan - Penybont
Mike Bobbett - Barry Town
Anthony O’Sullivan - Merthyr Tydfil