o45s Tour of La Manga, Spain

The Wales Veterans' Football Association sent a Wales o45s Representative squad to La Manga in Spain to play two matches against local opposition and in their first match against unbeaten o35s League champions, AD Trinidad Veterans, Wales earned a creditable draw...writes Manager, Paul ‘Ricky’ Richards....

The hosts started strongly, pressing the from the first whistle and Wales found it very difficult to get a hold of the ball and retain possession and AD Trinidad enjoyed most of the early possession. Keeper, Jonathan Howe made a great save after 20mins after a clever through ball from the Spanish midfielder and at the water break, Wales changed the system and that immediately had the desired effect with Sean Jones and Leon Thomas getting onto the ball more and driving Wales forward. Wales had a couple of great counter-attacks with Paul Keddle and Sam Brown going close to scoring, but it was scoreless going into the break.

The half -time focus was on getting in behind the Spanish full backs and shifting the ball quicker from the back. This immediately had its rewards with Damien Daniels and Keddle both getting in behind the full backs giving Rhys Llewellyn and Ben Bannon chances to score. In a tight game it was needing something special to break the deadlock and up stepped Welsh Skipper, Alun Williams who gathered the ball as he burst through from the back and unleashed a steamer of a shot from 30 yards out and flew into the top corner to make it 1-0 to Wales. Wales continued to press with Richard Taylor putting Keddle in, but his low strike just fizzed past the post. The Spanish equaliser came from Wales losing possession and a telling through ball put the striker through and he finished in style. The visitors reacted immediately and within 5 minutes Daniels set up Bannon who made it 2-1. Back came the Spanish and within a few minutes, they equalised from a clever lob that left Howe stranded in goal. Wales now looking the fitter and more energised, pushed for the winner and almost got it with a towering Richards header from a Williams free kick, but it was plucked out of the top corner by the Spanish keeper and the game ended all-square. Man of the Match was Sean Jones of Llanelli who was outstanding in the Welsh midfield.

Wales recorded an excellent 3-2 win in their second match against Internacional Cartagena, with Sam Brown, Damien Daniels and Alun Williams, again, on target.

Manager, Richards commented “I'm really pleased with the performances in our first two games and we can now look forward to our last encounter on Sunday, with real confidence.”