60s: League Cup 2024 – Tiny Trophy, Massive Boost

Champione, champione, ole, ole, ole! That’s right, Dexter Sports Walking Football Club have secured their first ever silverware in the Dorset Walking Football League – The 60s League Cup 2023/24.

The trophy itself may be tiny, but the boost it’s given our club is huge. It’s fantastic to end what has been a rebuilding season with a tournament win. And after our recent spot kick woes, it’s even more satisfying to have won the final with a penalty shoot out.

Tournament Overview

Tournament: Dorset Walking Football League, 60s League Cup 2024
Venue: Littledown Centre, Bournemouth
Date: 23 June 2024
Weather: Warm and Sunny 🌤️
Format: One group of four teams, with the top two playing in the Final

Group Stage Performance

Just four teams entered the tournament at the Littledown Centre in Bournemouth. The small number of teams was underwhelming, but you can only beat what’s in front of you, as they say. Those teams were Bournemouth, Dorchester, Swanage and of course Dexter Sports.

Our opening fixture was an impressive 2-0 win against hosts Bournemouth. Two opportunistic goals by new front man, Andy Madden, were enough to secure the perfect start to the tournament.

The second group match was a tense, hard fought goalless draw with Swanage, which could have gone either way. Greatly satisfying to keep consecutive clean sheets though.

Our final group match was an unfortunate single goal defeat to Dorchester. A shot rebounded off the post, hit our keeper and went in – but was it over the line? With goal line technology a while off at our level, we’ll never know for sure.

What we do know, is our keeper, Kev Tipper, wasn’t beaten by an on target shot in three group matches – a fine performance indeed.

That result meant Dexters had been pushed back into second spot in the group by Dorchester, who we would play again in the final.

All Tournament Results and Table

The Final

Once again it was a close affair, with defences controlling the game for both sides. Playing his first 60s tournament, Paul Gillis was a colossus in defence. Paired with goal goalkeeping heroics from Kev, the game ended goalless, and the agony of penalties were needed.

Both teams missed their first penalties to create even more tension. The shootout went to sudden death, with the decisive moments being Paul Kybert netting for us, before Kev finished off a fine display all day by saving Dorchester’s spot kick.

This was a fantastic day and a great squad performance. I’m grateful for the effort put in by everyone there – Paul Gillis, Paul Kybert, Andy Madden, Peter Kane, Mark Ciano, Kev Tipper, Terry Clark and Mark Sanderson. I’d also like to thank those players for the season who weren’t able to make it for the League Cup victory… Dave Bacall, Pete Cherryman and Steve Sharkey.”

John Gray, DSWFC 60s Manager

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