CHARITY MATCH PHOTOS

CHARITY MATCH PHOTOS & REPORT ... A GREAT EFFORT BY ALL OF YOU..!!

This game came about after a post by Brian Jarvis on the web site forum that maybe a few of the forum users might like to come over and have a kick about with his Milton Athletic team. After much banter the game turned into a match between Milton and the Web Site forum users and that any money made would be donated to a Children's Charity.

26 players turned up and two referees, so with 13 per side the game went ahead. Unfortunately the Forum team had two goal keepers, so Martin S (Hockley and Hawkwell) started at centre forward, for all of ten minutes before his lungs gave way. Martin very kindly grabbed the flag to assist with the other line.

Brian Jarvis replaced the two minute wonder Martin to add a bit of WEIGHT to the Forum forward line, not that it needed it, with Webber (Collegians and Spurs fan) up there from the off. The football flowed from both sides but it was not long before Milton took the lead after some good work by their midfield.

One nil soon turned to two nil and I must say slightly against the run of play at the time. Not long before half time the forum side managed to pull one back when Jim Leaback tapped in from two yards.

2-1 at half time and some very good friendly football played by both sides. The pick of the half for the forum side was the 90 year old Fred Thickbroom (Tag United) who never stopped telling Badger how to play the game (way too late for that Fred!!!! as you found out).


Mid way through the second half the Forum side pulled the game back level after some good work from Leigh Ramblers, Mark Thresher. Mark made good progress down the left hand side and a pin point cross was met by Badger to head home past Dave Jones in the Milton goal. Cue a barrage of abuse from Eddie McNally (Chalkwell United) on the line, along the lines of "Oh bugger what did you let him score for?" At this point the game looked like it could have ended in a nice friendly 2-2 draw. Not to those nasty men from Milton Athletic, 2-2 very shortly became 5-2. It seemed that we had dented Milton's pride and they stepped up a gear and scored 3 goals from 3 shots. Nothing Ironman (Great Wakering Rovers seconds keeper) could do for any of the goals. The Forum side did manage to pull one back when Badger hoofed the ball ala John Smiths style to the forward line. Webber then smashed 17 shots at Dave Jones and then hit the back of the net with the hardest to convert one, from an acute angle. The game finished 5-3 but what a great, friendly game of football it was. Well done to Garry Maskell who refereed the game and a big thank you for Terry Maynard for running the line. Both officials gave up their time for free to help us out and what a great job they did, well done to the pair of them.

A few of the web site names were missing on the day, namely Dale Winton and Bookie of Old Southendian but well done to the rest who came out and along with the players of Milton Athletic raised £327.50 on the day for Little Havens Children's Hospice. This was an outstanding achievement lads well done and thank you for the kind donations. A massive well done to everyone who played for the money raised and for a great kick about. I think everyone did really well on the day and most are already calling for the same next year. Milton's goal scorers were Justin Johnson 2, Steve Wade, Joe Cox and Arnie Sivertsen (Sivvy). Other famous names from the forum were Steve B Laindon and Thundermite Trev (OS), who both had great games. I thought Martin S also did very well when he came back on but not sure those sentiments were echoed by Clem Read according to Martin. Big thanks to Milton and Brian for organising the game and also Peter Woodford from Woody's Burger Van who also helped to make up the numbers. The real winners on the day was football and Little Haven's, so lets make it bigger and better next season.

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