7/4/2019: Canterbury 60+ Mini Tournament
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Following the success of a mini 60+ competition we held at BayPoint in February with 4 teams, we had another competition planned with 7 teams on Sunday 7th April at Canterbury Christchurch University.
The teams were Ashford, Bay City, Canterbury, Dover, Ebbsfleet, Maidstone, and Ramsgate. The venue was booked for 2 hours and we could play 3 x 6-a-side matches at once on the 3G pitches. So each team had to play 6 matches to play each other, and accordingly the match order of play was drawn up on a big sheet of paper. Just as this was completed 2 days beforehand, an email was received from Ebbsfleet pulling out citing a number of injuries……. so back to the drawing board with 6 teams and now 5 matches each to play!
The BayCity squad was Terry B, Rob Lynn, Nigel Brett, Nobby, Steve Earle, Mick Sharpe, Chris Le Corney.
In the first match BayCity lost to Ashford 2-1. Although we were not at our best seemingly, Ashford scored with their only 2 chances, and we hit the post twice. Steve Earle scored our consolation goal.
The second match we drew 0-0 with Dover (another post hit!), and the 3rd one we lost 2-1 against Maidstone. Mick Sharp scored our goal from a penalty for encroaching in the area.
So after 3 matches we were not doing too well……… The 4th match against Canterbury, however, we took a 2 goal lead through Steve Earle and Chris. Canterbury pulled one back, but we held on for a victory.
The final match was against Ramsgate, and we went 1-0 down early on. We fought back, however, Steve equalised and Chris scored the winner a couple of minutes from time. If we had started the way we had finished we might have done a lot better!
So at the end we had won 2, drawn 1, lost 2. Maidstone were the overall winners with 4 wins and a draw. The games were all played in a good spirit and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. They all want another 60+ event organised now!
Finally, many thanks to Rob Rae and John McKellar for reffing, along with John and Maurice from Ramsgate.
Chris Le Corney