O65 WorkwearSupermarket.com CUP

Barry Town 1, Swansea 2
Congratulations to Swansea who lifted the o65s WorkwearSupermarket.com CUP with a defiant performance at a humid Ocean Park Arena in Cardiff.

From the kick-off, Barry were on the front foot, creating and spurning several clear openings through a combination of profligacy and stubborn defending by Edwards, Griffiths and keeper, Joyce. Although Barry continued to dominate possession and territory, on 25 minutes, substitutes, Algeri and Laffan, combined well and the latter was allowed space to clip a delightful effort past Barry stopper, Mullen, against the run of play. It stayed at 1nil going into the interval.

A more evenly-balanced second half became a midfield war of attrition, yes, Barry still created the better opportunities but failed to score through a lack of composure at key moments and the safe-hands of man-of-the-match, Joyce. Swansea could have increased their lead with a Pasquantonio breakaway, but he was denied by Gibb’s timely intervention, whilst at the other end, Gibb was unlucky to see his 25-metre drive tipped over by the acrobatic Joyce. In the 55th minute Barry finally made the breakthrough, Huish fed Evans, whose accurate cross was headed-home by Miles. In a tense and tiring last 15 minutes, missed tackles and misplaced passes were commonplace, with both sets of players fatigued, but Mackay, Miles and Evans still had chances to win it for Barry. In another rare foray forward, an accidental collision between Myerscough and keeper, Mullen, resulted in the latter leaving the field of play with concussion. With minutes remaining, Brown donned the gloves and was almost immediately called into action, making a superb one-handed save from Myserscough...only to see the ball rebound off the bar directly to the same player, who slammed home from close-range.

Swansea held on for a fine win and captain, Griffiths, accepted the o65s WorkwearSupermarket.com CUP from the current WVFA Referee of the year, Graham Evans.

Congratulations to Swansea
Gary Joyce (GK)
Neil Gray
Huw Lloyd
Ian Edwards
Jeff Griffiths (Capt)
Rico Pasquantonio
Mick Algeri
Peter Laffan
Tony Myerscough
Phil Newton
Steve Jones
Peter Barletta
Martyn Waygood
Howard Sully
Alan Stabler
Manager: Garry Lloyd/Andy Jones
Secretary: Andy Jones

Commiserations to Barry Town
Rich Mullen (GK)
Phil Gibb
Paul Staddon
Stuart Evans
Alun Huish (Capt)
Steve Branch
Stuart Mackay
Graham Miles
Kevin Brown
Mike Blackaby
Howard Petersen
Dave Eveleigh
Manager: Paul Averies
Secretary: Alun Huish

7th May
Newport 0, Swansea 3
In the second o65 WorkwearSupermarket.com Cup semi-final at Ocean Park Arena, Swansea triumphed by a slightly flattering score-line. In an entertaining first half, there was some fine football played by both sides, but opportunities were scarce as both sets of strikers were well-marshalled. In the 25th minute, Barletta‘s perseverance paid off and he broke the deadlock, slotting home coolly past keeper, Phil Williams. A period of dominance followed for Newport with debutant, Simmons and Gerry Jones prominent, the latter forcing an acrobatic Meacham into action and it remained 0-1 going into the interval.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Edwards keeping danger man, Jon Williams mostly under-control and James and Miller doing likewise for Newport at the other end, until fine interplay between Pasquantonio and Myserscough on the hour set up Gray, who clipped the ball delightfully home. Newport pushed for parity, but inevitably, Swansea scored a third and decisive goal, Myserscough crashing home to secure a cup final slot against Barry Town on 21st May.

30th April
The first o65 WorkwearSupermarket.com Cup semi-final got underway between two under-strength sides at a sweltering Ocean Park Arena.

Barry Town 2, Penybont 0
This was an emphatic win for the ‘hosts’ against the o65 WorkwearSupermarket.com League champions, Penybont....writes Frank Lennon... Barry were ‘on-it’ from the KO and as early as the first minute a long kick from keeper, Mullen found striker, Miles, who, after a customary rampaging run was denied by defender, Roberts...but this set the tone for the rest of the game. The Barry back-line of Brown, Gibb and Staddon nullified Veasey and Penybont’s main threat, Morgan, and keeper Mullen was rarely troubled, whilst the midfield of Branch, Huish and Evans dictated all aspects of the contest. Roberts, Moglia, Whitmore and Braham did their best to keep their opponents at bay, with Miles, Branch and Huish all having shots blocked by a defiant Penybont rear-guard and it was still scoreless at the interval.

The second half continued as the first, but the fatigue was showing on the ‘visitors’ as they lost Paul Morgan and Pope to injury. Brown had a shot blocked and Miles went close again, but in the 50th minute Mackay gave Barry the lead...calmly slotting home after another direct run from Miles. Minutes later Huish drove into the box but his shot was acrobatically tipped away by keeper, Braham. He was not to be denied however, and in the 60th minute his angled drive from 25 yards arrowed into the corner of the net to put the game beyond Penybont and cap a fine victory for Jimmy Blackie's charges. Barry now face the winners of Swansea v Newport in the Cup final on 21st May.

9th April
The o65 WorkwearSupermarket.com Cup competition got underway today with two preliminary matches played under the cloudless skies at Ocean Park Arena.

Merthyr Tydfil 0, Swansea 1
An interesting game between two teams with contrasting fortunes this season. Swansea started the season well and were pushing for honours but then struggled in their most recent fixtures, including a hefty defeat against today’s opponents! Merthyr, started the season poorly but were victorious in their last 3 fixtures and they took this form into today’s match and dominated for large periods with some intricate football. They failed to convert their chances, either through profligacy or fine keeping by the ever-reliable, Meacham AND inevitably this would come back to haunt them. Swansea won the tie when Algieri was put through and slotted neatly in the corner to put his side into the semi-final where they will face Newport.

Penybont 4, Pontyclun 0
The o65 WorkwearSupermarket.com League champions, Penybont advance to the semi-final on 30th April after a convincing win over Pontyclun. The match itself was a fairly even encounter with White and Thompson busy for Pontyclun, but as usual the prolific Peter Morgan was the difference. He scored his first after a mazy run and shot which ‘Clun’ keeper, Eastman, failed to hold, enabling a simple tap-in from the rebound. Eastman redeemed himself minutes later with a superb tip-away, but Morgan’s then slalomed past defence and keeper to make it 2-0. The second half followed a similar pattern with Morgan completing his hat-trick and namesake, Paul also getting on the scoresheet. Barry Town await in the semi-final!