OVER 50's WFU NATIONAL TOURNAMENT REGIONAL STAGE - NUNEATON -  WINNERS 11/8/17

IMPRESSIVE OVER 50’S PROGRESS TO REGIONAL FINALS

Two thoroughly convincing performances saw Birmingham’s over 50’s progress to the Regional Final of the prestigious WFA Tournament. In the three way round robin they beat Coleshill and Leicester 4-0 and 2-0 respectively. With precise passing and excellent movement they proved far too strong for both opponents. A well work free kick between Dave Norton and Darren Bradley saw Bradley tuck in the opener into the corner of the Coleshill net. Norton then helped himself to a second before debutant Ian Ward’s beautiful dink finish made it three. Andrew Struthers then completed off a superb team goal where every Birmingham outfield player was involved to seal a comfortable victory.

After Leicester beat Coleshill 4-2 (coming from 2-0 down) it meant a winner takes all finale! Birmingham kept their nerve and whilst not appearing to get out of second gear totally controlled the play with Norton first, then a trademark Bradley thunderbolt saw off the East Midlanders.

Once again solid performances from David Castle at the back and Les Dawson in goal kept their opponents at bay , but Birmingham’s organisation and free flowing passing game was a joy to watch. Ian Ward slotted in to their system perfectly and with the Norton, Bradley, Struthers and Wright quartet, Birmingham have a goal threat everywhere.

Dave Norton said after the game, “We won it today as a real team, no individual person won the game, and collectively we were as good today as we’ve ever been. We need to keep learning and working with each other. Our attitude and understanding of what we are trying to achieve is getting so much better, and that’s so important if we want to take all the times where we have been found a little wanting (at finals) days to win a major national tournament.”