Sky One's Dream Team emerged victorious in this entertaining charity match at the Pliot Field this morning, against a Hastings side that was a glorious mix of veteran guile and youthful exuberance. Two late goals earned Harchester their win as ageing United limbs began to grow weary in the lunchtime sunshine, despite the hosts employing the seldom used tactic of sending on substitutes without anyone coming off in the closing stages. It all got too much for one former professional in the end, as United manager Neville Southall was sent off for accosting Harchester's attractive young female substitute, leaving his side to play out the dying moments with only twelve men.
The first half quickly became a triumph for Arrow FM deejay Andy Knight, who swooped onto an eighth minute left wing cross from Chairman Dave Walters to give Hastings an early lead. Dave went close himself with a far post header, before Alan Green, East Sussex League Referee of the Year and United's Reserve Team assistant manager, awarded Hastings a penalty for a foul on Daniel Skelton. Skipper for the day Terry White stepped up and rolled back the years by blasting the spot kick high over the bar. Harchester offered only a sporadic threat in the first half, but Matt Brown did make one smart fingertip save just before the interval, moments after Dean White had a far post headed goal ruled out for offside.
Unsurprisingly, the second half was an altogether more open affair, as the visitors' superior fitness began to get them back into the game. The equaliser arrived after fifty-six minutes, when substitute keeper Josh Willis was unable to cope with a four-on-one counter-attack, eventually allowing a simple tap-in. Terry laid on a superb chance for young Jamie McGuigan to restore Hastings' lead, but keeper Alex Lawlor produced an outstanding save, and then Dean hit the post with a header from Terry's cross. But it was Harchester who scored next, taking the lead for the first time in the match, when another mass raid on the United penalty area ended with Danny Sullivan beating the outnumbered Josh from the edge of the box. Dean saw another header brilliantly kept out by Lawlor, before finally getting on the scoresheet with a quarter of an hour remaining, running onto Terry's exquisitely lobbed pass to beat Lawlor from twelve yards. The Dream Team rallied again though, Danny Spice clearing off his own goalline and Curtis Alexander hitting the post, before Josh was beaten by an excellent curling shot from twenty yards, which found the net with only seven minutes to go. There was still time for Lee Presley to drill a low twenty yard shot into the corner for Harchester's fourth goal to seal the win.
With everyone keen to retire to the Clubhouse for a refreshing glass of lemonade, Alan sportingly decided to blow the final whistle about half a minute early (by my stopwatch anyway), although I doubt whether the loss of those thirty seconds was overly crucial and probably prevented Hastings from conceding a fifth. Many thanks to the Dream Team for coming down and contributing to an enormously enjoyable spectacle and well done also to the gallant losers, the golden oldies and the younger ones, who were of course playing their second game in less than twenty-four hours. And finally, thankyou to our generous sponsors and to everyone who came along to support the occasion. The amount raised for the South East Asia Fund was £750.
