MASSIVE EXCITEMENT AT CHEDDAR WALKING FOOTBALL

 

CHEDDAR LADIES WFC

(in their kit sponsored by DJB Taxi)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Back Row, L to R – Jane Morgan, Kelly Hillier, Jane White, Cheryl Ward, Sarah Williams, Jill Bassett

Front Row, L to R  - Julie Rogers (Capt), Lindsay Rogers, Nicky Frewin

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CHEDDAR OVER 60s WFC

(in their kit sponsored by The Cider Barn)

 

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Back Row, L to R – Mervyn Brean (Referee) Paul Randall, Chris King, Colin Batt (Capt), Clive Vaughan, Bruce Bayliss

Front Row, L to R  - Rob Salway, Keith Eccleston, Rob Sheldon

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REPORT

Tuesday the 11th of May saw the first ever Cheddar Walking Football Club “inter gender” cup final as the Ladies section played the over 60s (well over 60 in some cases!) Men’s team in a game played in great spirit and superbly refereed by local legend (well, Winscombe legend!!) Mervyn Brean.

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This was a game to test the ladies out, in their first ever match, but also to thank both teams’ sponsors – DJB Taxis (sponsors of the Ladies) and the Cider Barn (sponsors of the Men), for their support and assistance in getting both groups up and running. The donations made by both organisations are the reason that around 50 people a week play walking football in Cheddar, AND ENJOY IT EVERY WEEK!!

So, the club would like to say a huge thanks to Dave Binning (at DJB Taxis) and Jason Law (at the Cider Barn) for their immense contribution to the health and welfare of the folk of the village and surrounding areas, both physically and mentally!!

 

The game started, after team photos, with both teams showing great determination and commitment to the game, although the ladies, making their first appearance in a “proper match” were somewhat concerned as to whether they could match the men.

The great thing about walking football is that it is a great leveller, in that no one can run and also no one can make physical contact.

 

The scene for the game was set early as Bruce Bayliss of the Men’s team scythed down Kelly Hillier of the Ladies to put his marker on the game and let the ladies know that there was going to be no case of “we will let you win” from the men's team!

The Match Reporter on hand was not sure to make of the situation, as Bayliss’ son has been known to do some work for Hillier's partner, his pay rate may have just been reduced!

 

In the early stages the men showed their greater experience and it was no huge surprise when they opened the scoring.

The opening goal of the evening was an effort by Clive Vaughan that had to be special to beat Lindsay Rogers (who rightly earned the player of the match award for her brilliant performance – but it had to be good to beat some other great displays, not the least by her mother, Julie, who was the star outfield player and kept the ladies going throughout the whole game), so the men took an early advantage in the game.

 

Midway through the opening period a huge cheer went up when Julie Rogers flashed the ball past a helpless Chris King in the men’s goal, to level up the score. this goal was reward for the fantastic leadership shown by Rogers throughout the whole game.

The other group of ladies at their session, stopped just before the Cup final half time mark to cheer on their colleagues in the “battle of the sexes”.

 

The second half saw very much the same pattern happening with possession dominated by the men, but more chances falling to the ladies, although whenever the men did have a chance they were foiled by the fantastic goalkeeping of Lindsay Rogers. And it seemed that everything Rogers could do, Chris King did equally well for the men to deny the very eager group of ladies.

 

If the cheer was loud on the equaliser it was deafening when the ladies took the lead as Sarah Williams beat King from close range to make the score an unbelievable 2-1!

 

The good work was soon undone as the ladies scored once again, sadly for the opposition, as the “Alan Shearer” of the team, Jill Bassett, scored in her own net to the surprise of everyone, especially keeper Lindsay Rogers who was certainly not expecting, and had no chance of saving, a shot from the Geordie legend!

 

There were many moments of great football, but also hilarity, usually involving Colin “Wobble” Batt falling over!

But one site that will stick long in the memory of all that were watching was as the “overenthusiastic” Cheryl Ward as she hacked away at the legs of Paul Randall, with even the lenient referee, Merv Brean, being forced to give a free kick on this occasion!!

Fortunately, no ex-professional footballers were injured in the making of this scenario!

 

The game ebbed and flowed as both managers made changes, in order to try to gain an advantage over the other, a real chess battle between Rogers for the ladies and Sheldon for the gentlemen, and both teams had plenty of possession but were foiled by some fantastic defending by both teams.

 

However, there was to be a winner as a late goal separated the two, evenly matched, teams.

It was another legend, this time the Tote End legend, Paul “Punky” Randall, who settled the game with a late goal that no one else at the club could have scored, beating Rogers with a left foot finish that would have caused any other player to transfer the ball to their right and give the keeper the chance to save.

A goal and finish worthy of wining any game, and though hard luck on the ladies they could still hold their heads up high!!

Both teams then retired to the Riverside Inn where  they received fantastic hospitality from Huw and Jo and as a result the ladies have decided that the Riverside will be their future post-match venue for Tuesday nights, with the men supporting their sponsors, The Cider Barn on Thursday nights!!