Both Stamford 50+ and 60+ squads left Harborough with silverware as the 50s ran out winners and the 60s finished runners up to bring home the plate.
Sqauds were:
50+
Kurt Garbutt (capt)
Gary Wildsmith
Andy Walton (gk)
Grahame Robinson
Scott Sawers
Greg Pogonowski
Colin Barrett-Treen
Mark Vallerius
60+
Will Barrett (capt)
Frank Smith
Glyn Williams
Jez Hammant
Jez Norris
John Phythian
Tim Marsden
Trevor Oliver (gk)
50+ Report (courtesy Gary Wildsmith)
Stamford eased through their group games with 3 victories and just one defeat. Games were 6 minutes each way instead of the planned 14 minutes one way because of a high wind. The high wind made things a bit one sided depending which way you were facing.
The first two games (Desborough and Oundle) were won 1-0 with Gary Wildsmith getting both goals. Neither team troubling Andy Waggers Walton deputising between the sticks. After a short rest Stamford then struggled against the unfancied Towcester Town. However their solitary attack produced a shot from distance which resulted in somewhat of a shock 1-0 defeat.
The team picked themselves quickly to beat Kettering by 2 goals to 0 in what was the only 2 clear goal game of the group stages. Scott Sawers finally finding his shooting boots for both goals.
The Semi final saw us play Moulton. A confident start gave the team the confidence to run away with the game as 3-0 winners. Scott got us off to a good start before Gary added a second from distance. A bizarre own goal completed the 3-0 victory.
Penalties in the other game meant we were playing the final against Kettering having previously beat them 2-0 in the last game of the group stages.
Complacency got the better of Stamford as Kettering took a 1-0 lead to half time. Stamford dug deep knowing they had previously beaten their opponents 2-0 earlier in the day. A couple of individual goals by Gary Wildsmith turned the tie in our favour and Scott Sawers added a third as Stamford ran out worthy winners.
A team effort and well deserved win given the few chances we allowed our opponents even though a we faced difficulties a couple of times.
60+ Report (courtesy Will Barrett)
In the Over 60's there was only one group consisting of 6 teams.
Teams were - Towcester, Moulton, Kettering, Desborough, M.Harborough and Stamford.
The Stamford lads eased their way through this group stage, conceding just a single goal, setting up a final against Market Harborough.
As in most of the group games, in the final Stamford continued playing good football and creating numerous chances. Despite having the majority of the play, in the final minute Market Harborough broke away to score the winning goal.
Results:
50+
Group Stage
Stamford 1 Desborough 0 (Gary Wildsmith)
Stamford 1 Oundle 0 (Gary Wildsmith)
Stamford 0 Towcester 1
Stamford 2 Kettering 0 (Scott Sawers x 2)
Semi Final
Stamford 3 Moulton 0 (Scott Sawers, Gary Wildsmith, +og)
Final
Stamford 3 Kettering 1 (Gary Wildsmith x 2, Scott Sawers)
60+
Group results :-
Stamford 5 v Towcester 0 (Jez Norris 3, Jez Hammant 2)
Stamford 1 v Moulton 0 (Jez Norris)
Stamford 3 v Kettering 1 (Jez Norris, Jez Hammant, Will Barrett)
Stamford 0 v Desborough 0
Stamford 1 v M.Harborough 0 (Frank Smith)
Final:
Stamford 0 Market Harborough 1
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