Close finish in charity match
OLD Pond football team – fresh from finishing runners-up in the Brighouse Sunday Football League – had a scare when they met the Old Pond Legends in a charity match at Lane Head, Brighouse.
The result was close with the current team just managing to win 6-5. The match, the fourth to be held in memory of former nursery nurse Lisa Freeman, expects to have raised 525 for the Cardiomyopathy Association.
Mum-of-two Lisa, who worked at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Brighouse, died in October 2005 from the heart condition hypertrophic cardiomyopathy after collapsing at her Hove Edge home. The first charity match was organised by her friends at the Old Pond, Hove Edge, the following spring, and since then around 2,000 has been raised in her memory.
The Legends were winners for the first two years, last year the current squad were successful and they repeated that success at Sunday's match.
The vets were still shaking off the cob- webs when the youngsters roared into the lead with leading marksman Paul Taylor chipping in from out wide. Anthony Todd raced clear for the second before Richard Howard notched as a rout looked imminent.
Referee Dave 'Elvis' Ellis awarded a contentious penalty kick after George Brown fouled target man Peter Riley in the area. Man of the match contender Darren Bradley rolled back the years with a well-executed spot kick.
The Legends started to dominate with brothers Matthew and Ben Wormald likened to Manchester United's Fabio and Rafael – as they worked wonders down the wing. Mick Wood struck his annual goal to pull another back after some combative midfield play by Billy Bottomley and Andy 'The Bazurka' Walton.
Jason Kirby gave Richard Dawson's comparatively youthful outfit a two goal cushion again as he typically blundered the ball into the back of the net, but a powerful Walton header meant there was just one in at the much-needed interval.
The second half saw a raft of tactical changes by Dawson and Richard Crossley – the two managers. Glen Lee's introduction by The Legends proved a useful yet controversial swap – the midfield man never having played for the Pond.
Meanwhile, some late wheeler-dealing saw Andy Dawson and Andy Mann swap teams under the Bosman Ruling – another blow for Crossley who drew the short straw in acquiring the dilapidated Dawson. Ben Briggs, normally a goalkeeper, put the current side back into a strong position after striking home expertly at the back post, but a momentous charge from The Legends saw them come back to level the tie.
Bradley rammed home his second, before Lee fired in the equaliser – the veterans now looking as though they had two or three extra men on the park – which has yet to be verified!
In the end the youthful trophy holders found the winning goal via an unlikely source George Brown – having missed a twice taken penalty the week before – poked home after good interplay with strike partner David Bunnell. A touch off Matthew Wormald was, however evident – and the dubious goal’s panel may yet chalk off goal-shy Brown’s first strike since 1998.
Funds were boosted by a raffle organised by Denise Dawson and Sara Holmes in the Old Pond after the match. Prizes were donated by Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Safe Test Electrics, Kershaw’s Garden Centre and Bradford Bulls. Star raffle ticket seller was 10-year-old Eleanor Holmes whose efforts boosted the funds. Food was also sold in the pub by Denise and Sara along with Diane Kirby.
A charity music quiz was held by Michael Nuttall and a ‘killer’ darts tournament was won by Michael Martin, who gave his prize back for the charity.
Thanks were expressed to Jiffi Clean Launderettes for washing the kit free of charge and to Paul McCusker and the Old Pond regulars for their support.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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