Wales o75s defeat World Champions England!

The Wales Veterans' Football Association welcomed a world cup winning England o75s squad to the FAWs Dragon Park Stadium, and in blistering sunshine the Wales o75s squad lifted the Aneurin Bevan Shield...writes Alun Huish....!

England defeated Wales emphatically last year at St George’s Park and are also the current World champions, defeating Wales on penalties in the o75s World Cup Final in Cardiff in August! But 8 months is a long time in football and the Welsh management team of Tim Bowker, Dave Eveleigh and former Cardiff City legend, Jimmy Mullins, have been putting their charges through their paces regularly since then...and confidence was high going into today’s match.

Following a rousing rendition of the National anthem the home team set about their business on a superb Dragon Park surface, but it was the visitors who started on the front and inspired by English captain, Martel, they pressed forward with intent against a nervy Welsh rear-guard. Unusually, apart from Wales man of the match Evason, players struggled to find a teammate with a pass and for the first 15 minutes England dominated possession and territory. However, with speedy striker Billy Arnold in their ranks, Wales still could have gone ahead, against the run of play, when two lighting counter-attacks ended with his shots going narrowly wide. As Quarini, Powell and Gerry Jones became more influential, Wales began to retain the ball and pass with more purpose and on the thirty-minute mark, Arnold’s precise finish put his team ahead and they led 1-0 at the interval.

Following some 'gentle words' of encouragement from the ‘laid-back’ management team, the hosts looked much more assured on and off the ball as the second half got underway. Jones began to ‘orchestrate’ and Hold, Quarini and Brustad were comfortably in control at the back, and when the latter strode forward with purpose, his pile-driver from 25 yards cannoned in-off the bar for 2-0. Welsh keeper, Locke, was called into action on a couple of occasions but was assured between the sticks and when a fine pass from Evason found Powell, he struck an upright with an angled drive. Captain, Entwhistle, got himself on the scoresheet when his goal-bound ‘slow-roller’ was misjudged by the visiting keeper and the game was all but won. With minutes remaining a fine through-ball from Jones found Arnold, and after fine interplay with Powell, he crashed a powerful shot over the helpless English gloveman to complete a gratifying performance for the hosts. Entwhistle gleefully collected the Aneurin Bevan Shield from special guests, Nygaire Bevan, great-niece of ‘Nye’ along with Mark Adams, Vice-president of the FAW.

Congratulations to the following players, who were selected for this match which was generously supported by the FAW, Ashfield Leather and Workwear Supermarket.com.

Bob Locke (GK) - Merthyr Tydfil
John Gallivan - Wrexham
Bryn Powell - Penybont
Steve Hold - Penybont
Bob Nelson - Pembroke
Peter Evason - Wrexham
Gerry Jones - Newport
Handley Brustad - Newport
Mark Entwistle - Newport
Tom Collinson - Swansea
Rob Stevens - Swansea
Frank Lennon - Barry Town
Billy Arnold - Merthyr Tydfil
Joe Quarini - Cardiff Academicals
Steve Davies - Cardiff Academicals

Management: Tim Bowker, Jimmy Mullins and Dave Eveleigh