TEIGNMOUTH Walking Football’s Over 60s managed a triumph against adversity in the world’s biggest Walking Football tournament in Albufeira, Portugal.

Despite starting with an injury depleted squad and two guest players to fill gaps, the team came in runners up in the Plate competition.

Three defeats and three victories in Phase 1 of the tournament saw some great goals scored by leading striker Ian Pybus, with more solid forward play leading to goals from Pete Lee, Terry Falcao and captain Dave Fay. The whole team did themselves great credit with hard-working displays from all team members including substitutes Rob Morson and Ian Kirchin.

The stiffest opposition came from Bolton Nomads who scored three times in a dominant display, where the final score could have been higher but for the usual superb goalkeeping display from Pete Williams keeping their firepower at bay.

However, the Drifters’ performances saw them through to the Plate competition where they had to work hard on a scorching hot day to reach the semi-final stage with victories over Spanish side Real Calahonda (the final score sitting at 2-1 with Teignmouth’s goals scored by Ian Pybus and Pete Lee) and Coleshill (the final score being 3-1 with two more goals from Ian Pybus and another from Dave Fay).

The semi-final was a close run affair against Portuguese side East Algarve. The match finished in a 1-1 draw with yet another equalising goal from prolific striker Ian Pybus. So it came to the best of three penalties but there was no result at first as all six attempts were scored. On to sudden death it went. The first penalty from the Algarve team went over the bar and, with some trepidation, Drifters’ guest defender, Norman White, agreed to take the shot. With an outstanding coolness of nerve he stepped up and slammed his spot kick home and, to much noisy acclaim, ushered the Drifters into the final to play for the Plate.

After a brief rest from the heat the Drifters went into the final against local team SC Faranese with great hope of success. Neil McEwan, the Drifter’s Club Chairman and club founder continued to play a gritty and effective game in defence with strenuous backing from Norman White and outstanding play, as ever, from goalie Peter Williams.

The Drifters had, on balance, the best of the play with a few narrowly missed chances. But less than five minutes before the final whistle, Faranese broke quickly out of defence and, despite another athletic attempt by Peter Williams to save an unstoppable shot, they secured victory at their home tournament, leaving the runners up silverware and medals to the Drifters.