29 October 2005
England LDs v France: Highlights
England's Ronnie Watson talks through the action of the 10-0 victory over France at Cambridge City.

England

10-0

France

Frank Curley 14, Ronnie Watson 25, 45, Lele Bajada 29, Brad Brotherton 47, George Lay 55, Dean Earle 65, 85, 89 (pen), Grant Smith 90


Learning Disability International Friendly
City Ground, Cambridge City
29 October 2005

England’s current world champions, the Learning Disability team, kicked-off their preparations to defend their title by thrashing France 10-0 on Saturday.

Lyndon Lynch’s side will travel to Germany in August next year to compete in the Learning Disability World Cup, the competition they won in Japan in 2002. With this result England have sent a warning out to the rest of the world that they intend to keep their silverware.

England started off brightly but France could have gone ahead from a freak goal, when England ‘keeper Harry Hunter hit a clearance against the head of Johnny Fouache and it rebounded just wide of the left post.

Striker Lele Bajada was at the centre of all England’s attacking play early on and went close to opening the score on ten minutes with a free-kick. Four minutes later he provided a cross for Frank Curley to head in from close range.

Bajada was then denied again on 15 minutes when his shot was cleared off the line, but he set-up England’s next with a throughball allowing his strike partner Ronnie Watson to competently slot past the ‘keeper to make it 2-0.

Lynch’s side kept pressing forward and were rewarded on 29 minutes, this time Bajada got his name on the scoresheet. Receiving a pass from the lively Brad Brotherton in midfield, the striker controlled the ball and volleyed from 35-yards into the top of the net, much to the delight of the 242-strong crowd.

England made it four in added time before the break, with Brotherton again providing the pass for Watson to score.

Lynch made two changes at half-time and, to England’s credit, went all out to improve their lead. They were rewarded on 47 minutes when Brotherton netted their fifth.

Had it not been for the spectacular performance of France goalkeeper Thierry Legnall, England could have doubled their score. France dug deep and battled to the last, but England’s attacking flare meant they were always likely to add to their advantage.

England’s sixth came from substitute George Lay, who held off a strong challenge on 55 minutes to lob Legnall.

Scorer Ronnie Watson was replaced on 59 minutes by Dean Earle, who made a big impact on the last third of the game scoring a hat-trick.

On 65 minutes Earle ran onto a throughball and placed the ball past the keeper; on 85 minutes he nutmegged Legnall from inside the area and his third, with a minute left, was from the penalty spot after Ray Sarpong was brought down.

Grant Smith, who had shone on the right wing, made it 10-0 in added time rounding the ‘keeper to coolly slot into the net. 

England
Harry Hunter (Wesley Jackman, 46), Daniel Cole, James Morris, Frank Curley, Dean Chandler, Grant Smith, Scott Curley (Taylor Mollat, 53), Brad Brotherton, Ronnie Watson (Dean Earle, 59), Lele Bajada (Ray Sarpong, 73), George Chuveikana (George Lay, 46).
Subs not used: Junior Bilal, Chris Kempsley

France
Thierry Legnall, Mickael Richard, Christophe Lepretre, Mourad Behassem, Frederic Nathurel, Jonathan Bouzeboudsa, Manuel Verret, Walid Segnes, Frederic Violet, Cyril Chabart, Tayeb Belgacem.
Subs: Johnny Fouache, Miquel Ricouleau, Marie Albert.