Bulls happy after first round of games
Tony James and Paul Parry both featured for Wales in tonight's Four Nations tournament opener against Scotland at Carmarthen Town, as they won 2-1.
The hosts opened the lead within two minutes, when Lee Phillips ran to fire home a low ball after a cross from the left channel, and Wales had several chances to extend their advantage before the Scots equalised. Graham Evans's shot went inches wide of the far post after Telford's Peter Smith provided a ball through, but a minute later (22 minutes) Scotland's Ian Murray levelled the scores. The Deveronvale striker, who netted fifty Highland League goals last season, rounded Farnborough stopper Tony Pennock to tap the ball home.
Paul Parry tried his luck on goal on a couple of occasions, but his best effort, a first header, went well wide of the target. The game became heated towards the end of the first half, as tempers boiled, but that was a stark contrast to a relatively dull second period. Scotland had the best of what play there was, but substitute Steven Main wasted the best opening when he found the side netting. At the other end, Scottish 'keeper Andy Shearer had to push over a Graham Evans header, before Paul Parry was removed with fifteen minutes left.
In the last ten minutes, Wales came to life, searching for the winner. Several chances eluded them, including a possible penalty appeal when Ben Davies was fouled, but the referee, Mr. L. Probert of Bridgwater, turned it down. However, a deep cross from Welsh skipper Gary Lloyd in the last minute found Evans, who turned the ball home to collect the points.
WALES: Tony Pennock (goalkeeper - Farnborough Town); Lee Phillips, Gary Lloyd (captain) and Lee Jarman (all Barry Town); Tony James, Paul Parry (off, 75 minutes)(both Hereford United); Steve Evans (TNS); Ben Davies (Chester City); Peter Smith (Telford United); Graham Evans (Caersws, off, 90 minutes); Ricky Evans (Bangor City, off, 65 minutes). Subs: Gary Shepherd (on, 90 minutes), Nathan Davies, Andrew Thomas (all Newport County); Kevin Evans (Merthyr Tydfil, on, 65 minutes); Bari Morgan; Lee Kendal (Haverfordwest County), Mark Dodds (Port Talbot Athletic, on, 75 minutes).
SCOTLAND: Andy Shearer (goalkeeper), Darren Still (both Keith); Ross Archibald (Whitehill Welfare); Steve Dolan (captain, off, 56 minutes), Scott Anderson, Mike McKenzie (off, 50 minutes), Ian Murray (all Deveronvale); Derek Milne (off, 62 minutes), Trevor Fleming, Mike Stephen (all Fraserburgh); Mark Smith (Cove Rangers). Subs: Scott Cantley (Whitehill Welfare); Bobby-John Fairhurst (Wigtown and Bladnock); Paul McGinley (Threave Rovers, on 62 minutes); Steven Main (Fraserburgh, on, 50 minutes); Phil O'Neill (Lothian Thistle, on, 56 minutes); Shawn Scott (Lossiemouth).
In the night's other match at Merthyr Tydfil, England emerged 4-0 victors against Ireland. Hereford's Michael Rose started the game, while goalkeeper Matt Baker had to make do with a place onm the substitute's bench. Aldershot's Roscoe D'Sane put the English ahead after just eleven minutes, and then two goals in five minutes from Yeovil Town's Kirk Jackson game England a 3-0 advantage at the break. Paul Fairclough's men picked up a fourth as Jackson completed his hatrick in front of 322 at Penydarren Park to put them top of the group after one match, and setting-up the England vs Wales match on Thursday as the likely championship decider.