Wolves win Midlands Masters again

Wolves old boys maintained their stranglehold on the Midlands Masters by completing a hat-trick of triumphs at the NIA over the weekend.

The veterans won the battle of the old boys for a third successive year – and how.

The Molineux old boys clinched the trophy in the over-35s with a 6-2 win in the final against Aston Villa, a victory that sent them once more into the Grand Final at the NEC on September 7.

Wolves came agonisingly close to the national title last year, beaten in a penalty shoot-out.

Now they renew their quest for the main trophy with optimism now Albion, Villa, Walsall and the Blues have been dispatched.

Don Goodman led a Wolves squad that included keeper Paul Jones, Andy Thompson, Mark Burke, Mick Gooding, Phil Robinson, Scott Taylor, David Kelly and Darren Roberts.

They needed a late, late equaliser from the man famous for his St Andrew's hat-trick to secure a draw against debut team Walsall.

The Saddlers, with old favourites Ron Green, Chris Marsh, Mark Rees and Adrian Viveash among them, were denied that victory and also lost 5-3 to the Baggies.

Saddlers midfielder Andy Reece said: "It was still a fantastic experience. We were the oldest team but it didn't show.

"Ron Green was excellent in goal and our game-plan in the first match meant we were hard to break down and play against, as eventual winners Wolves found out.

"They were free-scoring but had to wait until 20 seconds from time to find a way through us.

"We couldn't do that in the next game, as we had to win by seven clear goals."

The game Wolves followers would have enjoyed just as much as the final saw Goodman smash four goals in a 7-1 victory over Albion squad.

The Baggies squad featured Tony Lange, Kevin Donovan, Wayne Fereday, Carl Heggs, Richard Sneekes, Sean Flynn, Daryl Burgess, Ian Hamilton and Roy Hunter.

The final was settled early, as Roberts grabbed a hat-trick and Wolves burst into a 4-0 lead.

Quickfire goals from David Norton and Mark Kinsella raised Villa hopes of a comeback but a sublime chip from Goodman was the pick of the final, before Taylor rounded off matters.