2019 Budapest Veterans Report Plate Semi Final

Results

Budapest Celtic Heroes (Hun)	4	V	1	Bure Park Seniors (Eng)
Old York Cosmos (Eng)	1*	V	1	Legends of the Vale
* Old York Cosmos (Eng) won 3-2 on penalties.

Plate Semi-Final time and things were getting interesting. The teams from third in each group would play the teams in fourth from the opposite group.

First up was Budapest Celtic Heroes versus Bure Park Seniors. Both Budapest Celtic and Bure Park were potentially gunning for a Cup & Plate double which had never been achieved by the same club in the same tournament. Bure Park came close last year in Mallorca with runners-up finishes in each competition.

It was Budapest Celtic Heroes who flew out of the traps in this fixture opening up a 2-0 first half lead. Kevin Vernooij scored his third and fourth goals of the tournament to put the local side in control. In the second half Bure Park Seniors got themselves back into it with a David Ayris goal. At 2-1 this game was still alive.

Budapest Celtic Heroes re-established a two goal advantage as Kevin Vernooij bagged his hat-trick. It was the only hat-trick in the Budapest Veterans tournament so well done to him. 3-1 then became 4-1 as Joe McCann scored his second of the tournament.

Bure Park Seniors were out. It was over to the Old Boys to win some silverware for them this year.

Who would meet Budapest Celtic Heroes in the Plate Final? Would it be Old York Cosmos or would it be Legends of the Vale?

Legends of the Vale had been here before as they were defending their Plate title from Mallorca 12 months ago. Old York Cosmos were the protagonists hoping to take their crown and it was Old York Cosmos who hit the front with Kester Witt's third goal of the day. Legends of the Vale were not going to give up their title easily and Steve Hesketh grabbed an equalizer to take this game into a penalty shoot-out.

There was an element of déjà vu so far for Legends of the Vale. In Mallorca, they drew their semi-final 1-1 before progressing on pens. Were they going to repeat the feat?

It was Legends of the Vale who started off well in the shoot-out. Steve MacDonald and Steve Finnis converted their first two penalties that saw them take the initiative. Kester Witt scored the opening goal for Old York Cosmos but Paul Burnham saved from James Kilkenny to make it 2-1. Steve Hesketh then missed for Legends of the Vale as Simon Cartwright levelled it up at 2-2. Tim Harris and James Crawford both saw their penalties saved in the first round of sudden death.

The fifth round of penalties proved decisive – Ali Fener failed to convert for Legends of the Vale whilst Neil Largan struck the winning blow to send his team into a European final. Congratulations to both goalkeepers – Paul Burnham (Legends of the Vale) and Peter Lunan (Old York Cosmos) who each made two saves.

Huge congratulations to Old York Cosmos on a fine win. Commiserations to The Legends of the Vale – great to see them on tour again.