WELLINGTON Walking Football Club are home from their international tournament in Majorca, having made it all the way to the final.

The relatively inexperienced squad held their own during the group matches in a tournament packed with seasoned teams affiliated to top clubs, playing a very high standard of football in front of hundreds of spectators at the Santa Ponsa sports ground.

The turning point of the competition came in the match against Portsmouth when Welly were awarded a penalty. Defender Niall Mitchell stepped up without hesitation and with the ball under his arm – it was clear nobody else was getting near the penalty spot! A well struck, confident penalty kick put the local heroes in front but, with just a minute or two to go, Welly keeper Dave Cooper made several saves to keep a clean sheet and Welly had their first victory under their belt.

In the final group game, captain and midfield dynamo Monty Morris scored two goals, including another well struck penalty, low and hard, to set up a quarter final with fellow Southwest team Teign Drifters.

Sunday morning started with thunder and lightning that delayed play in the knockouts for a couple of hours and the squad was left on tenterhooks. The tension showed in a tight 0-0 draw that went to penalties but Niall and Monty again stepped up and the path to the semis was open!

The semi final against Irish team Bray saw the best open play from the Welly boys but magnificent goal keeping from both Wellington keeper Pete Gatling and the Bray keeper again saw the match end in a goalless draw at full time.

Penalties again: Monty and Niall both put theirs away, then Pete Gatling made a fantastic save to put Wellington’s defensive midfielder Colin McCarthy under the spotlight as he stepped up. But a nerveless drive hit the back of the net and the boys from Wellington were in the final!

After the opening ceremony and National Anthem, Wellington’s squad – Martin ‘Monty’ Morris (captain), Chris Bowden, John Warren, Dave Cooper, Peter Gatling, Niall Mitchell, Ian Puttock, Tony Nayeb, Colin McCarthy and Phil Tucker – shook hands with the Manchester Old Boys and the final was underway.

Wellington were strong but their opponents’ experience showed as they pushed them back towards their own goal and Welington found it hard to break out. On came sub Ian Puttock for the injured hero Niall and a lovely move saw Ian break free from the right but he just dragged his shot wide.

Two minutes to go and Wellington were punished by a wonderful Manchester strike on the turn that walloped through the crowded defence to beat Pete Gatling and break the Welly players’ hearts.

Though Wellington pushed and pushed the Manchester lads shut up shop and the full time whistle saw Wellington finally bow out of the tournament to a 1-0 defeat. But Wellington had won the hearts of the supporters and they got a massive cheer, especially from the Teign Drifters whose full squad and partners turned out en masse to cheer Wellington on, singing Wurzels’ classics as they left the pitch. Disappointment didn’t last long. Wellington Walking FC did the town proud in a tournament peppered with international and domestic teams who regularly compete at the highest level globally.

Terry Tredget