Stamford Strollers' walking football team compete in the Moulton Masters tournament

With Stamford Strollers’ walking football national finals runners-up taking a well-deserved break, it was the turn of other members of the 65-plus playing squad to take on the challenge at a rainy Moulton Masters tournament.

In the end, the result was the same, with Strollers losing on penalties in the final.

They were placed in Group B with four other sides and their first match was against Moulton Masters Stripes.

Strollers were straight into their rhythm, with Frank Smith going close twice before John Phythian scored from a tight angle.

There was little offered by the opposition and Strollers won more comfortably than the 1-0 score suggests.

Next up was Brackley where again Strollers started well with Phythian netting twice, the first being a shot from the edge of the box following a flowing move and final pass from Bob Wood.

Strollers then took their foot off the gas a little and Brackley took advantage, securing a late consolation goal.

The third group match was against a Kettering side who were also unbeaten after their first two games and perhaps predictably the teams saw out a goalless draw.

As the rain intensified, the fourth and final match at the group stage was once again a no-score draw, this time against Moulton Masters Reds.

Finishing top of their group, Strollers went directly through to the semi-finals where they played Brackley again,

This time it was a tighter affair but, with no real threats on the Strollers’ goal, another goalless draw, so the match went straight to sudden death penalties.

Brackley took the first and the shot was brilliantly saved by Paul Newiss, his save parrying the ball onto the bar where it bounced downwards and to safety.

Phythian stepped up and blasted his shot past the keeper to take Strollers into the final where they faced Corby.

Strollers’ chances in the match were adversely affected after a bizarre incident when Brian Dunkerley was involved in a pushing incident with an opponent.

While Dunkerley received a two minute sin-bin for his part in the fracas, the Corby player escaped without sanction.

Despite being a man down, Strollers coped well and, alhough they were under pressure during the blue card period, their goal was not unduly threatened. Wood went close with a long range screamer which the keeper tipped away.

Once again, after the game ended 0-0 so penalties decided the match. This time the format for penalties was a more familiar ‘three each’ before moving to sudden-death.

Corby scored with their first, but all subsequent penalties were missed meaning that Strollers ended their day agonisingly just short of a tournament win by the smallest of margins.