Scunthorpe Walking Football side win inaugural Gainsborough tournament

Five teams were invited to play in the first ever competition run by Gainsborough Trinity FC and held at The Roses sports grounds, which is planned to be held annually.  

Two teams from Gainsborough Trinity competed along with teams from Hykeham Hedgehogs, Scunthorpe and Worksop.

The format was six-a-side with every team playing each other once. Worksop were despatched in the first game 2-0 followed by two draws leaving it down to the last game between Scunthorpe and Gainsborough Trinity ‘A’. 

Scunthorpe had to win their final game to win the overall competition on goal difference.

The Iron narrowly won with a goal in the first half by Phil Moody, who was the overall top scorer on the day. With backs to the wall in the second half with some very good defending Scunthorpe held out to take the title.

After coming within a single point of qualifying for the EFL Walking Football Trophy National Finals at Barnsley last week (the most recent of a few near misses for the team).

Scunthorpe United WF team finally got their first tournament win today. A seven-strong squad (Chris Akers, Steve Coulman, Dave Batho, Ted Jewitt, Lee Thompson, Phil Moody and Mel Hollis) played in the inaugural 6-a-side GTWFC Cup, organised by Gainsborough Trinity WFC. 

Our opponents were two teams from the hosts, plus teams from Worksop and Hykeham. The first 20 minute game against Worksop saw the teams quite evenly matched, with Worksop showing themselves capable of stringing some good passing moves together and being able to hold on to the ball well. But two well taken goals from Phil Moody and rock solid defending gave Scunthorpe a great start with a 2-0 victory.

The second game was against Hykeham. Scunthorpe kept their opponents pinned back in their own half for much of the game, creating plenty of shooting opportunities, Lee Thompson hitting the post a couple of times. But the Hykeham keeper played well, the winning goal just didn’t come and it ended as a goalless draw.

Game three was against Gainsborough ‘B’. Steve Coulman, sharing goalkeeping duties on the day with Chris Akers, had very little to do, with the Scunthorpe lads again keeping the opposition pinned back in defence for long spells. Their lone striker was closely shadowed by Dave Batho for the whole game and barely got a touch of the ball. The opportunities were there for us, including two well saved penalties, but again the opposition keeper did well and it was another goalless draw. So it came down to the final game.

Gainsborough ‘A’, with six points to our four, just needed a draw. Scunthorpe needed a win. It was a tight game, neither team giving much away and sharing the possession evenly. But a single first half goal from Phil Moody, making him the tournament’s top scorer with all three of Scunthorpe’s goals, put the seal on a maiden tournament win for the Iron.

Two wins, two draws and not a single goal conceded in 80 minutes of football gave us the trophy on goal difference by just one goal. It was a terrific competition, all credit to the hosts, Gainsborough Trinity WFC and to the two referees, who were excellent.

The games were competitive but played in a great, friendly spirit by all five teams, just the way walking football should be played.

Walking football sessions for over 50’s are held locally at Premier Pitches, Kettering Road run by Scunthorpe United Trust on Monday nights 5.30 till 7.00pm at a cost of £3.