Rude awakening in Cardiff for World champions!

The Wales Veterans' Football Association invited the England o70s squad to the Ocean Park Arena in Cardiff to play an international match against their double-World Champions....and the red dragon fire was well and truly extinguished...writes Rob Beel (England Captain) and Alun Huish, Wales manager...

The hosts were still in celebratory mood after being invited by the FAW to the thrilling Wales v North Macedonia match the evening before....and on a cold, frosty day, the visitors formed a guard of honour to applaud the recent World Cup triumph in Japan.......but that’s where the niceties ended!.......and a clear game plan from the opponents ‘to stop Wales playing’....worked like clockwork.

The visitors flew out the blocks and their pressing game, assisted by the ‘smaller’ pitch at Ocean Park, caused agitation in the Wales defence and they could have taken the lead in the first minute of the game following a ‘mix-up’ between Young and keeper, Meacham. England seized the initiative with Man of the Match, Whelan orchestrating and they dominated possession, occasionally using ‘industrial’ tactics against a lacklustre Wales side short on physicality and ponderous in possession. Young and Gibb defended well for the hosts, but on 30 minutes, England’s pressure finally told, when Steve Mole drove (too easily) past three defenders before firing home from an acute angle, to give his side a thoroughly deserved 1–0 lead at half-time.

The second half began with renewed Welsh purpose, as the hosts probed and attacked with greater conviction. Rowlands and Compton were working tirelessly, but England’s defence were rarely troubled and they duly doubled their advantage when Wales surrendered possession, and Mole, again, executed a clever lob over the Meacham from 20 yards to claim his second goal of the match.

Wales were given a lifeline, with 15 minutes remaining, when they were awarded a penalty. Steer, who had a fine debut, calmly converted to reduce the deficit to 2-1. The game became more open and tensions rose, but at least Wales were testing their opponents and Peterson could have equalised before Miller’s fine turn and shot was parried by England stopper, Kirk. At the other end England’s Darton was denied by a superb save from Welsh keeper, Meacham just before the final whistle.

FAW President, Mike Jones, presented the trophy to England’s winning captain, Beel and the Welsh contingent were left to lick their wounds and prepare for the next round of matches in the WVFA o70s League....and make sure they get back to winning ways against England B in February!

Congratulations to the following players who were selected by the management team, Alun Huish, Jon Ross and Jason Kennedy...

Alan Meacham (GK) Swansea
Phil Gibb (Capt) Barry Town
Paul Young Newport
Geoff Miller Newport
John Rowlands Newport
Peter Morgan Penybont
Peter Laffan Swansea
Mick Algieri Swansea
Terry Compton Newport
Phil Williams Newport
Dick Steer Penybont
Phil Newton Swansea
John Jordan Newport
Chris Jones Swansea
Howard Peterson Barry Town
Paul Diaper Newport
Bryn Jones Penybont