Corby Town Annual Walking Football Tournament 

Eight highly skilled and talented teams participated in the Corby Town annual Walking Football Tournament on Sunday, 4th August, at Steel Park, Corby. In the over 50's section, Solihull Moors competed alongside teams such as Stamford Strollers, Corby Town, Norwich Soca Seniors, Kettering Walking Football Club, Harborough Hornets, Northampton Town, and Skegness Town. Solihull Moors recently faced Northampton Town and Norwich Soca Seniors at the Northampton Town Community Trust Tournament held at Sixfields Stadium, and they eagerly anticipate these familiar matchups once more. Additionally, Solihull Moors looks forward to engaging with new teams, building friendships, and embracing new challenges in this spirited tournament.

Match Reports

Solihull Moors 1 Norwich Soca Seniors 0

Solihull Moors opened their tournament schedule with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Norwich Soca Seniors. In a tightly contested match, the breakthrough came when Brendan Mulcahy won the ball from Norwich and skillfully passed it to Paul Clarke, who dispatched it with power into the net. The solitary goal proved decisive, securing Solihull Moors a winning start to the tournament.

Solihull Moors 1 Corby Town 1

Solihull Moors followed up their opening win with a well-earned point against hosts Corby Town. Corby Town initially took the lead, but substitutes Andy Powers and Paul Clarke combined to level the match. Powers delivered a well-weighted pass down the left-hand side, setting up Clarke perfectly. Clarke then dispatched a left-foot shot into the corner of the goal, securing a 1-1 draw for Solihull Moors.

Solihull Moors 1 Skegness Town 1

Solihull Moors started their third group game slowly, allowing Skegness Town to race into an early lead with a superb goal down the right-hand side. However, Solihull Moors responded with determination. Brendan Mulcahy scored his first goal of the tournament with a great finish, expertly set up by Brendan Maxwell. The match ended with both teams sharing the points.

Solihull Moors 2 Harborough Hornets 0

Solihull Moors continued their unbeaten start to the tournament with a convincing 2-0 win against Harborough Hornets. Craig Smithurst opened the scoring, reacting quickest to Paul Clarke's shot which rebounded off the post. Clarke then followed up with a goal of his own; the keeper saved his initial shot, but Clarke was there to score the rebound. Clarke was unlucky not to add another as he once again hit the post, capping off a dominant performance by Solihull Moors.

Solihull Moors 1 Stamford Strollers 1

Solihull Moors remained hard to beat with a hard-fought draw against Stamford Strollers. Stamford opened the scoring, but Solihull Moors responded with determination. Brendan Mulcahy assisted once again, this time setting up Brendan Maxwell to dispatch an excellent equaliser. Both teams pushed for a winner, but in the end, a draw was a fair result.

Solihull Moors 0 Northampton Town 0

Solihull Moors and Northampton Town shared the points in a goalless draw, with both teams effectively canceling each other out. The Northampton goalkeeper made several good saves to keep Solihull at bay. Despite the stalemate, a draw was a fair result, allowing Solihull Moors to remain unbeaten in the tournament.

Solihull Moors 3 Kettering WFC 1

Solihull Moors capped off their group stage with their most emphatic win of the day, triumphing 3-1 against a highly regarded Kettering. Brendan Mulcahy was the star of the show, scoring a superb hat trick with three well-taken goals. The match was played in great spirit, with both teams already having qualified for the semi-finals.

Semi-Final

Solihull Moors 0 Northampton Town 0

Solihull Moors and Northampton Town drew 0-0 for a second time in a tense semi-final clash, with both teams defending well to cancel each other out. With the score deadlocked, the game was decided by a penalty shootout. Brendan Maxwell scored Solihull's first penalty, and Northampton equalised. Brendan Mulcahy scored Solihull's second penalty, but Northampton leveled again. Paul Clarke made it three perfect penalties for Solihull, and Northampton equaled once more. The shootout then moved to sudden death, where Craig Smithurst continued Solihull's 100% success rate from the spot. The hero of the match was goalkeeper Tony Newton, who saved a penalty that had to be taken three times, securing Solihull Moors' progression to the final with a 4-3 victory on penalties.

Final

Solihull Moors 2 Kettering WFC 1

In a tense final, Solihull Moors faced off against Kettering, who had upped their game from their earlier 3-1 defeat to Solihull. Both teams created numerous chances before Kettering opened the scoring with an excellent goal. The match took a dramatic turn when Kettering were reduced to five men after a strong tackle on Karl Insley resulted in a straight red card for the offending player.With the man advantage, Solihull Moors showed determination and pushed forward. Brendan Maxwell leveled the match with a lethal shot into the bottom corner, making it 1-1. Solihull continued to press, capitalising on their numerical superiority. Paul Clarke then scored the winner from what seemed like an impossible angle, surprising the keeper. Although the keeper got a hand to the ball, it only helped it across the line.

Solihull Moors celebrated a hard-fought victory, returning up the M6 with the trophy, having remained unbeaten in all nine games.

Tournament Summary

The tournament at Corby Town was a resounding success, featuring a fantastic day of football enjoyed by all. Solihull Moors extends heartfelt gratitude to the organisers for orchestrating such a memorable event.

Solihull Moors eagerly anticipates the possibility of returning next season to be part of this wonderful occasion once again.

Pete Hurrell (Manager)

A special mention goes to manager Pete Hurrell, who skillfully ensured all players received equal time on the pitch. He selflessly stepped aside for the semi-final and final, delivering brilliant team talks and inspiring tactics and speeches. His leadership and dedication make him a truly deserving winning manager.

Squad

Tony Newton, Pete Hurrell, Karl Insley, Martin Sibley, Craig Smithurst, Brendan Maxwell, Andy Powers, Paul Clarke, Brendan Mulcahy.

Goal Scorers

Brendan Mulcahy 4, Paul Clarke 4, Brendan Maxwell 2, Craig Smithurst 1.