The England Veterans made a winning start to the defence of their World Seniors title, in a rain-soaked Hua Hin Stadium, Thailand, on Monday afternoon. The team couldn’t have been handed a harder opening draw than coming up against the ‘Old Enemy’, Scotland. (Also, see story on Page 26 of the current issue).
As reigning champions, England opened the tournament in brilliant sunshine, difficult conditions for veterans, most of whom are in their mid-forties and over. A cagey start saw both teams test each other out, but England made the breakthrough mid-way into the first half, when Lee Elam was brought down in the penalty area and Peter Beagrie stepped up to convert the penalty.
The goal settled England, who looked more assured as the game went on. Just after the break, England scored the decisive second, when a poor clearance from the Scots was picked up by Andy Hessenthaler and played on to Rod Thornley, who turned his man on the edge of the box and put Lee Elam through to score.
The Hua Hin crowd, many of whom were local schoolchildren, provided a fantastic back-drop of noise and colour as England looked to stamp their authority on the game. But as the rain started to fall, the Scots rallied, scoring from a set piece with just under twenty minutes to go.
A nervy finish in difficult conditions, but England held out for a 2–1 win and as The Journal went to press on Tuesday, the side were playing their next match against Taiwan. Midsomer Norton-based goalkeeper, Steve Phillips, started for England in what is his third consecutive Seniors’ World Cup.
Ian Nockolds