06/03/2016 - Wales Fans v Syria
Venue: Swansea University, Swansea, Wales.
Back Row: (left to right): Gareth Price, Tim Hartley, Kevin 'Grapes' Davies (Ref), Owen Williams (Manager).
Back Middle: (left to right): ??, ??, Lee Hartshorn, Wyn Lewis.
Front Row: (left to right): Andrew Dowling, ??, Kevin Davies, Evan Williams, Paul Kinsey, Thomas Bowen.
On Sunday the 6th of March the Wales Supporters team once again came together to take on a team of Syrian Refugees. The game took place at Swansea University, the first time the home team had played there since 2005 and no doubt the players would love a return there after an impressive performance.
Neil Dymock was unavailable to take charge of the team so it was down to Owen Williams to take up the role of Caretaker Manager for the second time, and what a fantastic job he did! Williams set up the team in a 4-4-2 formation.
Wales kicked off and settled very early on with Wyn Lewis controlling the middle of the park and Evan Williams and Kevin Davies causing the Syrians problems down both flanks. Wales soon took the lead after some good linkup play between Lee Hartshorn and Tom Bowen, with Bowen finishing off the move with a very well taken goal. Wales fully deserved their one goal advantage, but let Syria back in to the game and they should have punished the home team with some chances of their own, but luckily for Wales Gareth Price was in-between the sticks and pulled off some saves that even Neville Southall would have been proud of. Wales started to gain control of the game again and goals from Bowen, Hartshorn and Kevin Davies followed.
But the pick of the goals came from Rhondda boy Andrew Dowling. He may not be as good looking as Robbie Page but he certainly has a better shot! Wales had put a very good passing move together, the ball reached Dowling who had crept up from right back, and from 35 yards unleashed a thunder ball of a strike that crashed in off the underside of the bar, (it was better than Yeboah, honestly!).
Wales had done all the hard work in the first half. The second half the Syrians bombed the Wales goal and managed to get a consolation goal.
The game finished Wales Supporters 11 v 1 Syrian Refugees. Goals came from Tom Bowen (4), Lee Hartshorn (3), Kevin Davies (3) and one from Andrew Dowling. It was a good all round performance by Wales, and hopefully they can take it on when they face Northern Ireland on the 24th of March.
Tim Hartley who is creeping closely to the 100 caps gave a donation on the behalf of Gôl and the Wales Supporters team.
Thank you to the Syrians for playing and a big thank you to Kevin 'Grapes' Davies for refereeing the game.
