Annual Charity Match Report - 17 May 2008

The annual Charity match between a Metheringham Select XI and a Dunston Red Lion XI took place on the Star and Garter Paddock on FA cup final morning. This year almost £80.00 was collected towards the chosen charity, St Barnabas Hospice.

With a sprinkle of age and youth in their side the Metheringham team went a goal down early on to a Chris Jones goal. They quickly turned this around with two goals from Billy Fox and by the break it was 3-1 with a third goal from Simon Sewell.

Dunston's livewire striker Andy Foster pulled a goal back for Dunston and Nick Cordiner made it 3-3 soon after. Meg again went ahead with a header from Ben Gash but in the dying moments Dunston's skipper Gavin Hutchinson left the Meg keeper Pete Harrison motionless with a 25 yard thunderbolt.

The game went into extra time and with the Meg player manager Dave Atkin utilising his players with skill they quickly took a lead they would not again lose. It came in fortuitous fashion as the Dunston's keeper fumbled a close range John Sewell effort and allowed it to roll over the line. Jon Miller then rose to head home an inch perfect free kick from Nigel Beck for 6-4 before Simon Fenwick completed the scoring. The game was played in good spirit and excellent refereed by Andy Blackband.