Strollers 60+ Win Rushden Tournament

Stamford Strollers travelled to the summer Rushden tournament with what, on paper, looked to be a very strong 60+ and it wasn’t long before the squad delivered on the promise. Cruising their way through the league stage with five wins and a draw, the lads lifted the trophy in the final to bring the silverware back to Stamford.

League Phase:

With a late withdrawal from the competition, the format was modified to a single league of seven teams, followed by a final between the top two teams.

Strollers 0-0 Bedford:Despite creating a number of chances, we suffered the usual slow Stamford start, with multiple shots being pulled wide of goal.

Strollers 2-0 Kettering (Watson, Humphries)

It didn’t take long for Stamford to brush off their slow start, and when the ball arrived at the feet of Al Cook he set up Jimmy Watson for a thumping strike into the Kettering goal. The Strollers were now in a rhythm and were passing the ball around nicely. A breakdown of a Kettering attack, saw a fast break by our lads as Cook turned provider once again, this time for Paul Humphries.

Strollers 4-0 Rushden (Cook, Norris x2, Ross)

A mix up from the Rushden kick off resulted in Jez Norris being gifted the ball in front of the opposition goal, and he tucked it away nicely. This set the tone of the game with Strollers dominant from start to finish. Passing and interchanging were superb and Cook added a second goal, nicely played in by Norris.Continuing to play their passing game, skipper Taff Lovesey played in Norris for his second of the game, and when Watson set up Iain Ross for the fourth, the game was done and dusted. An excellent performance.

Strollers 2-0 Harborough (Humphries x 2)

With all eight squad players buying in to the style of game being played, the Strollers continued to play some excellent football. Harborough were one of the favourites for the tournament, but they found the Reds too hot to handle. Two goals from Humphries brought another deserved three points for the lads from Lincolnshire.

Strollers 1-0 Corby (Humphries)

A tighter game this one as Corby proved to be a tougher nut to crack, well organised and defending well. With the game deadlocked, it was Strollers that made the breakthrough after Steve Bones, when tracking back to win the ball, played a short pass to Cook, who in turn found Humphries, who checked inside and finished with aplomb.

Strollers 2-0 Redwell (Bones x2)                      

Strollers went into this one knowing that they would finish in the top two and through to the final, but were determined to enjoy another clean sheet. Redwell battled well and created a few chances of their own, before a quick short free kick from Lovesey set up Bones for his first goal of the day. The same two combined later in the game for Bones to notch his second.

Final:

Strollers 0-0 Kettering

A much tighter game than the one between the two teams in the league section. Both teams had chances to win in normal time but the goalkeepers stood strong.

A no score draw took the final to penalties.

·       Bones opened the shoot out with well hit shot (1-0)

·       Kettering miss (1-0)

·       Watson hit a firm strike that was piushed onto the bar by the keeper  (1-0)

·       Kettering score (1-1)

·       Lovesey stepped up and slotted the ball into the corner of the net. (2-1)

·       Kettering scored (2-2)

·       Ross made no mistake with his strike (3-2)

·       Kettering scored (3-3)

·       Humphries smashed the ball into the roof of the net (4-3)

·       Kettering scored (4-4)

Time for the keepers to step up including Geezer Gutteridge who stepped in to help us out for the tournament, with no Stroller keepers available.

·       Geezer Gutteridge slotted his shot into the net (5-4)

·       Geezer doubled up for us as he then saved the Kettering penalty (Stamford 5-4)

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/5491a2_14e00eb07cf84d8182ca47ca4a84ce54/480p/mp4/file.mp4

The Penalty Shootout

As manager/skipper for the day in Tim Marsden’s absence, my thanks to all the squad today for their commitment and camaraderie. A superb day of football and post match celebrations. Also a fitting weekend to win this with Paul Humphries and Steve Bones both birthday boys!

Squad:

·       Geezer Gutteridge (GK)

·       Taff Lovesey (manager/skipper)

·       Al Cook

·       Jez Norris

·       Steve Bones

·       Jimmy Watson

·       Paul Humphries

·       Iain Ross