Valletta & Football Match 3

WALNEY V SIGGIEWI FC

After a day of sightseeing in the capital Valetta, the tour group travelled to the small village of Siggiewi on the west of the island to play our final matches of the tour. The format for the evening was to be a Walney Select 7 v Siggiewi 7 on half a pitch, followed by 2 Walney teams playing against each other on half a pitch. The festival would be complete with the main event an 11 v 11 Walney v Siggiewi finale. 

Walney 7 starting line up v Siggiewi 7:

ROBERTS

SPEAKE, SKYRME

EDDY, WALKER, RODEN

COOPER

Walney started this game the brightest and got an early goal through Brad Speake reacting quickest when the ball was dropped by the GK following a corner. A contender for goal of the tour came next when Zach Walker took aim from a free kick in a central area and arrowed it into the top left corner of the net. In the second half, Umar and Rea were brought on and a first appearance for Jake Stockdale brought about the fans applause and he quickly them paid back with an uncharacteristic strike from the edge of the box. A great goal. Final score 3-0 Walney!

Walney (Yellow) v Walney (Blue)

Starting line ups:

(Blue) Mr Robinsons Team

ROBERTS

LAW, GALLAGHER

MCMULLAN, J.BAILEY, EDDY

T.SWALES

(Yellows) Mr Milburns Team

M.BAILEY

NICHOLSON,SPEAKE

RODEN, SKYRME, WALKER 

MCKEE

The game between the two Walney teams was one of pride not only for the players but for their respective managers. It was a clash of styles, philosophy and age! And both needed to win. 

The game was a great advert for Walney School football with some lovely play by both teams, two good goals decided the game, one for each team by Swales and McKee leading to an amicable end to an exciting contest. 1-1

That left the main event of the evening and our last match of tour. 

Starting XI in a 4-3-3 formation:

M.BAILEY

GALLAGHER, RODEN, LAW, NICHOLSON

MCMULLAN (C), SKYRME, WALKER

MCKEE, SWALES, J.BAILEY

Due to the games earlier this match would be 2 halves of 20 minutes. Right from kick off Walney pressed Siggiewi into their own half and began to create a host of chances which were not finished. Great interplay down the left kept feeding James Bailey with the ball and his crosses were causing all kinds of problems for the opposition. The goal we had been searching for came from a goalkeeping error. Walker found space edge of the box and hit a well struck shot but the goalkeeper should have done better eventually fumbling it over his goal line. 

In the second half Siggiewi upped there game and had a couple of opportunities which scared the Walney defence but some fine handling by Matthew Bailey put a stop to their thoughts of an equaliser. With 10 minutes remaining the killer goal was scored, a goal everyone had waited for all tour Tyler Swales rewarded for his hard work and resilience, there was a familiar look to the goal with McKee skinning his full back and crossing for room mate Swales to sweep home first time. Get in! 

At the final whistle the final score was  2-0 Walney, players, fans and manager were extremely happy finishing the tour unbeaten - a great way to end the tour.