E.P.S.F.A. Vets V The Royal Navy Vets

E.P.S.F.A. Vets V The Royal Navy Vets

24 / 02 / 2026

Kick Off 14.00

Venue – HMS Temeraire, Portsmouth

Match Report

The Prison Service Team travelled to Portsmouth to play a regular fixture against The Royal Navy. The team had been eagerly looking forward to the fixture after their last game was disappointingly cancelled by the opposition.   

Hopes were high with 5 players making their debuts after a recent recruitment drive. It was great to see new players despite the challenges establishments are now facing and staff getting released. 

The game started at a tremendous pace with both sides trying to settle and keep possession. The Service team were put under pressure early on but coped well playing with a new formation of three at the back. On 7 minutes Sam Weston received the ball from Captain Erkan Okay and he curled his shot in from just outside the box, it must be said against the run of play. Back came The Navy and on 18 minutes the Service keeper, Baz Andrews, made a terrific save pushing a free kick onto the bar. 

The game continued to be a tight affair, and on 28 minutes the Service kept the score at 1-0 by excellent defending saving two attempts on the line, one from Wayne Vaughan and the other from Andy Roberts.

Chances were limited for both sides but on 37 minutes the ball fell to The Navy Centre-Forward in the box and he calmly wrong footed the Service keeper to roll the ball into the side netting making it 1-1. 

The second half continued in the same manner, very fast and competitive, but a dubious offside gave The Navy an edge, whilst the Service defenders stopped, The Navy slotted home to take the lead. This had a profound effect on the players, and The Navy took full advantage scoring another 2 in the next 5 minutes to make it 4 – 1. Eventually the Service regained their composure and replied with another superb finish from Sam Weston, 4 – 2.

With the Service team pushing for more goals, they were caught with a good diving header following a cross from their right wing. Towards the end of the game new debutant Jonathan Cox collected the ball on the left and drove at the Navy defence unleashing a shot into the far corner, a fine way to mark his debut.

Final Score 5 – 3 

An excellent game played at a tremendous pace with both teams giving it 100%, only a couple of free kicks and no bookings. A fine advert for any kind of football.

The management would like to thank The Navy for their hospitality throughout the day and are looking forward to this fixture next season.

Also, the Service team players for turning up, which, for some was an 11 hour round trip. Well done guys.

Football was the winner on the day!!

Prison Service Squad

Barry Andrews   

John Bailey   

Darcy De’Ath

Wayne Vaughan  

Steve Lalley

Andy Dengate 

Darren Worrall

Ellis Horsefield         

Graham Deegan

Erkan Okay            

Sam Weston         

Martin Clover

Andy Roberts

Jack Allen  

John Cox