Wales and England o50s ends goal-less!

The Wales Veterans' Football Association invited England Veterans FA to send an o50s squad to face a Wales o50s at the Ocean Park Arena in Cardiff...writes Manager, Andrew York....

Wales welcomed old foes England to Cardiff and started with a very attacking formation of 3 at the back, 5 across the middle and 2 up top. Wales dictated the play in the first half playing some lovely football from back to front, creating a number of chances, and were very unlucky not to take the lead after lovely build up play involving John Kenworthy and Kev Bartlett, creating a chance for Ricky John who was denied by the England keeper. Wales looked solid at the back with captain, Neil Richards, Wales MoM, Nigel Delaney and Steve Evans holding the fort. The midfield of Mike Walsh, Steve Oram (making his debut) and Neil Williams in the 10 role interchanged well and fed the wingers Kenworthy and the ever reliable Steve Powell who were causing problems for the England defence but it remained 0-0 at the interval.

In the second half Dyfri Owen replaced Kenworthy on the right, Phil Tranter and Phil Wells came on, as did Richard Guerney. England were getting stronger as the game went on, however both teams went for the winner with chances at both ends. Ian Davies in the Welsh goal had a quiet afternoon but was needed to make a very good save in the last ten minutes, keeping a well-deserved clean sheet and in the end a draw was probably a fair result.