BARRY-based soccer club Cadoxton Imps have hosted the Edwin “Eddie” Mallett seniors five-a-side football tournament at the Gol Centre, Leckwith.

The tournament is an annual event in memory of former treasurer Eddie Mallett who was with the Imps for more than 30 years and who sadly passed away in 2007 after a valiant struggle against prostate cancer.

The fun tournament consisted of seven teams, one from the Imps’ current senior team in the Vale of Glamorgan Football League - “Bish’s Boys” led by Gareth Evans- together with invited teams of past players/managers, including a team managed by Jeff Howells made up from fathers from Ty Hafan (“the DILFs” - you work it out!).

Teams played each other once in a group stage, with the top four going into the semi-finals and two reaching the final.

Surprise team, comprising current Imps committee members - “the Croc(k)s” - led by chairman Martin Pursall, vice-chairman Ian James and Alex Spierling (in place of his father, secretary Gary Spierling, who took on refereeing duties), actually won a game but that was largely as a result of the bolstering of the team with some young skilful ringers to bring the average age down a few decades.

The four semi-finalists were the “Leg Ends,” managed by Leigh Cogbill, who had won the inaugural tournament back in 2008, Gavin Lewis’ “Goose’s Greats," a Pro Copy Athletic team led by Luke Llewellyn-Davis and Ashley Cottle’s team, whose name began with “Norfolk” and ended with “And Chance”.

The final between the Leg Ends and Pro Copy was of a very high standard and both teams were evenly matched. Leg Ends seemed to have pulled away with a 3 -1 lead, with player of the tournament Simon Robbins making the difference, but Pro Copy came back with a late goal to make a tense final few minutes. Despite referee Gareth Spierling’s added on Fergie time, Leg Ends held on to win 3-2.

The committee would like to thank Ian James for arranging the location and Gary Spierling for his unbiased refereeing, organising the trophies and drawing up the match rota not knowing how many teams would be turning up until five minutes before the start!