Charity is the winner at annual Legends Match

The ‘Legends Match’ headlined a day of fundraising for heart charity Cardiomyopathy UK, which this year topped over £1,000 raised.

The event was instigated in memory of popular local nursery nurse, Lisa Freeman, who died in October 2005 aged just 30 from the heart condition hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Since then the village of Hove Edge – and particularly those associated with the Old Pond and its Sunday football team - have arranged this annual event to raise money for a charity close to their hearts.

The Legends Match pits together the Old Pond Sunday League football team against an outfit made up of former players and guests,

Michael Martin was involved in the build-up as Richard Howard and Andy Walton combined to give the old timers a shock 1-0 lead, but Jamie Clay immediately set up Brad Rufus who restored parity.

Jason Kirby made a fine stop from Walton to prevent The Legends going back in front allowing Pond to then take a two-goal lead at the other end. Clay again got the assist setting up Wayne Allert to score the first of his goals in an eventful match, before Clay added one of his own.

Paul Meredith has a penchant for a spectacular Legends match goal and fired one in from range.

Defender Jamie Crane’s loose pass allowed Allert to break and make it 4-2 to Pond.

A lifeline was gained on the stroke of half time as Allert bulleted a header into his own net to gain a hat-trick of sorts!

Howard rolled back the years to level things up at 4-4, but The Legends again couldn’t hold on and Allert was the man again on the end of a Clay cut

back.

There was life in the old legs yet however and Walton struck home to make it 5-5 but went from hero to zero as his tired spot kick minutes later was saved

by Michael Barlow who was now donning the gloves for Pond.

The younger side ran away with proceedings late doors to record an 8-5 victory. Clay helped himself to a hat-trick to go with his five assists, before Hayden Lewis put the icing on the cake with a side foot home.

Back in Hove Edge, food was served for a small charge to charity in the Old Pond, where landlady Helen Crawshaw and staff provided excellent support for the event. Denise Dawson and Sara Holmes ran the annual raffle and other fundraising quizzes and games to swell the coffers, with Lucas Dawson on hand to help with the guess the name of the Teddy competition.

The raffle was a roaring success, with the organisers quick to thank Thaal Restaurant, Crow Nest Golf Club, the Dusty Miller and customers of the Old Pond who all provided prizes. Newly refurbished Jifficlean Launderette on Garden Road also continued their generous tradition of laundering the match kits.

The fun continued through the day and into the evening with band We Aint Twins capping off the day helping to toast another successful event remembering Lisa and raising money for a worthy charity.

If anyone would still like to donate, then a Just Giving page is available at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/oldpondfc.