HARTSHILL Strollers have won an FA-organised walking football tournament at Hereford.
The victory for the Summerhill School-based side was extra sweet because the B team – all but one aged over 60 – defeated the club’s A team, whose players are all in the over 50 age bracket.
The B team won all of their three matches.
The six-a-side mini-tournament was arranged by the Herefordshire FA, which actively supports and promotes walking football in the county.
The first match proved to be the clincher with Hartshill A and B teams being drawn together.
The ‘youth team’ went ahead with a fluke goal from Eddie Tromans, due to a massive deflection, which left goalie Dave Seddon with no chance.
Undaunted, the B team rallied and equalised through Steve Nicholls and then went ahead with what turned out to be a match-clinching goal by hard-working Richard Delahaye, to end 2-1.
The Hartshill veterans were immediately back in action against Hereford Wednesday and unexpectedly went 0-1 down to a bizarre goal caused by a freak bounce on the cut-up artificial pitch.
However, the Strollers re-grouped and scored through Steve Nicholls (2) and John Cooper (2).
The 4-1 final scoreline could have been higher as Hartshill bombarded the Wednesday goal with shots in the second half – repeatedly hitting the woodwork and shooting inches off target.
The B team wrapped up their hat-trick of wins with a 3-0 victory over Leominster FC, John Cooper, John Moore and Richard Delahaye being the scorers.
Meanwhile, the Hartshill Strollers A team trounced Leominster 5-0 and beat Hereford Wednesday 3-1.
So, Hartshill B won the mini-tournament, with Hartshill A finishing second. Leominster were third and Hereford Wednesday fourth.
It was the second tournament win for Hartshill Strollers in just over a month.
The club’s A team won the Kidderminster Harriers Community Walking Football Tournament in May, the B team finishing third.
Hereford tournament organiser Tom Mason, apprentice football development officer with Herefordshire FA, said: “It was an excellent event, played in a very sporting manner.”
It is hoped that a return tournament will be arranged by Hartshill Strollers at Summerhill School, Kingswinford, in due course.
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