Michael Monksfield All-Star Charity Cup

Friday night at Ram Meadow could only mean one thing, The Michael Monksfield All-Star Cup Final. With a turnout as low as ever witnessed at this historic national stadium, professional athlete Michael Monksfield was left to pick the left-overs from a season which had taken its toll on both the Black Boy and their Veteran counterparts. Graham Plummer was chosen to captain the opposition Vikings while the lucky players who weren’t picked for the match could make full use of the bar facilities.

Kick-off saw the All-Stars take the initiative as on-loan Lee Pallot combined well with Paul Revens on the corner of the area before the latter sidefooted into the corner with a trademark finish. The crowd and players went ballistic. One soon became two after full-back Charlie Leighton was released down the left and his pull-back was finished by Carter. The Vikings hit back strongly as the half progressed and pulled one back after Driver spilt a cross to self-proclaimed superstar Paul Nozedar to steer home before the interval.

With the game delicately poised and a raft of substitutions being made, The Vikings came out of the traps quickly in the second half with Phil nearly breaking the deadlock before Nozedar added his second of the night after rounding the keeper. The All-Stars went close through Pallot and then not-so-close with a long range effort from Shanks which only worried the corner flag. The sell-out crowd was also treated to Dave Neary’s specialist move, the “human-nutmeg” before Leighton was forced to withdraw with a cut to his eye after a robust aerial challenge.

The Vikings were soon rampant again as Chris Rogers caused all sorts of problems up front, scoring while sat on the ground as the keeper came out of his goal. Minutes later, Rogers scored an identical effort from a seated position leading to chants in the crowd of “He only scores on his arse”.

After another flurry of substitutions, The All-Stars were chasing the game. A bandaged Leighton pulled one back with a looping header that no-one dared challenge him for after his injury before rifling in an impressive second from range after a mazy run from Pallot.

With the scores tied at 4-4, the lottery of penalties commenced. Gareth Adams was the red-faced party as he missed the decisive spot-kick after an ill-advised attempt to lob the 6’4” keeper who was stood on his goal-line. That left Graham to lift the trophy, Leighton to head to A+E, Shanks to superbly raise £2000 for his MacMillan charity and everyone else to head to the bar.