CAFC reach final in North Wales Dragons Invitational tournament

Sunday 23 July 2023 saw Cheshire Autism FC take part in the North Wales Dragons Invitational tournament at Ysgol Aberconwy North Wales.

This was the first year we’d taken part in the tournament, and we were joined by:

902 Vikings FC
CPD Tal Y Bont
Calm 84 FC Crewe
and two teams from North Wales Dragons

The Dragons were raising funds in the tournament for St David’s Hospice (external website) and donations received were donated to Craig Berry’s cause as he gets set to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in August for charity.

If you would like to donate to this cause, please visit Craig Berry’s Just Giving page (external website)

Our team for the tournament

The CAFC players, managed by Paul Roberts, were:

Sam Ives
Christy Harmon
Paul Cooper
Alec Sumner
Paul Fletcher
Daniel Mills
Paul Dillon
Rick Paton
Adam Mather

Top row (left to right): Adam Mather, Christy Harmon, Paul Cooper, Paul Dillon, Alec Sumner
Bottom row (left to right): Danial Mills, Rick Paton, Paul Fletcher, Sam Ives, Paul Roberts

Group games

We were drawn into a group with North Wales Dragons and CPD Tal y Bont.

North Wales Dragons

Our first game was against one of the host teams, North Wales Dragons, both teams battled fiercely for a crucial win.

The game was tight, and we needed some crucial saves from Daniel Mills, who was in the sticks for CAFC.

Rick Paton slotted past the Dragons Keeper to give us a hard-fought win.

CPD Tal Y Bont

Our second group game was against CPD Tal Y Bont, which was a thrilling match as both teams clashed with a lot of determination on the pitch. The intensity was there from the opening whistle, with crunching tackles and passionate challenges throughout.

We went behind after a questionable free kick was awarded, which was taken quickly, and finished off well by the CPD Tal Y Bont forward – nothing Daniel Mills could do about that one.

Paul Dillon calmly keeping hold of the ball

We had a couple of chances, but the game ended in a narrow 1-0 loss.

Quarter-final

Finishing second in the group stages meant that we faced another host team, North Wales Dragons, in the quarter-final.

From the opening whistle, CAFC displayed attacking flair and relentless pressure to put North Wales Dragons on the back foot. It didn’t take long for Adam Mather to capitalise as he found the net with a precise finish, giving CAFC an 1-0 lead. Adam, looking hungry for more, scored his second of the match with another clinical finish.

CAFC were 2-0 up and cruising… but North Wales Dragons hit back with a well-struck goal to get them back in the game.

A mazy run from Coops led to setting up Rick Paton who put the game to bed, and saw CAFC progress to the semi-final.

Semi-Final

We faced our familiar friends, Calm 84 FC Crewe, in the semi-final. A team we’ve had some great 11-a-side matches against in the past.

Alec Sumner netted early on after a coops-nutmeg set him up.

After the goal, Calm 84 FC Crewe piled on the pressure, which needed big performances from the CAFC defence and keeper.

But hard work, quality defending and some crucial saves, saw CAFC edge the game 1-0, and reach the final.

The final

In the final, we were up against a team we’d already faced in the group matches – CPD Tal Y Bont. Another close game was on the cards…

Unfortunately… it wasn’t to be though. The final was a game too far for CAFC and we were heavily beaten 5-0.

Congratulations to CPD Tal Y Bont, who were worthy winners.

Fletch getting in on the celebrations, but standing out ‘a bit’ in our away kit

Thanks to North Wales Dragons

Huge thanks to our friends at North Wales Dragons for the invite, as always, a really well organised event from them and we hope to go one step further next time.