Visiting FA Representative XI beats Falklands team and a British Forces XI side

Wednesday, November 14th 2018 - 07:24 UTC

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Lots of the community went to watch and with great excitement from the younger fans: at the end of each match the kids run into the pitch in search of autographs (Pic PN)

An England Football Association Representative XI played a Falkland Islands team and a British Forces XI over the weekend. The match against the Falklands' team on Saturday saw the FA side win 3-1 with the team captained by Mitchell Parker. Both matches were played at the Stanley Community School field.

Hanwell Town’s Ibrahim Olutade opened the scoring for the he FA side and Jonathan Lacey from Leverstock Green doubled the lead. The Falklands Wayne Clement pulled one back for the home side but Chalfont St Peter’s Alex Paine made it safe for the Football Association team.

Speaking about the game, Jody Aldridge, who is a wildlife photographer on the Island and supplied pictures to FA in Bracknell said the visit had been a great success: “They have been great! Lots of the community went to watch, and the excitement from the younger fans has been great – at the end of each match the kids run into the pitch in search of autographs.”

A post on the FITV Facebook page said: “What a fantastic performance from the Falkland Islands team. Having gone into half time 2 goals down they fought brilliantly in the second half, brining the score back to 2-1. The third goal conceded was a penalty about ten minutes from time, though there could’ve been more goals if not for a string of brilliant saves by Ross Peters and all around defensive play by the team.”

On Sunday, Bracknell Town striker Liam Ferdinand scored twice for the FA side as they came from 2-0 down to beat the forces side while former Reading City forward Mitchell Parker scored a penalty. Chris Hurton scored twice for the forces and Ferdinand’s strikes came either side of Parker’s penalty.

“On Sunday against BFSAI final score was 3 – 2 to the FA Representative team. BFSAI were 2-0 up at half time thanks to Cpl Chris Hurton scoring both goals. The FA came back to have the score equal and then flew in another on the 85th minute”