Southend United Legends 8
The Farke Knight Rises CFC 2
A selection of Southend United legends ran back the years in order to raise money for former teammate James Walker, as goals from Lee Barnard, Matt Harrold, Nicky Bailey, Kevin Maher, John White and Anthony Grant secured a convincing 8-2 victory for the legends.
Shortly after Walker had kicked the game off, the legends took the lead through Barnard. A blocked attempt from White deflected into the feet of Barnard and the former Tottenham Hotspur man curled the ball into the bottom corner from just outside the area.
12 minutes later Southend doubled their lead with Barnard adding to his tally. Following patient build-up play from the legends the 38 year old unleashed a strike from range that nestled into the bottom corner once again.
At 2-0 down The Farke Knights were still in the contest but five minutes after Barnard's second, his strike partner Matt Harrold made it three. Leon Constantine laid the ball off to Harrold and the current Leyton Orient first team coach lashed home from range.
The legends almost got a fourth within two minutes but Lee Clark made a fine reaction save in the Knight's goal to keep out a poked effort from Barnard; and ten minutes later Clark was forced into another impressive save this time denying Constantine with his legs to ensure the half time score would be 3-0 to Southend.
Eleven minutes into the second half the Farke Knight Rises got themselves a goal back through a counter attacking Karl Seth strike. Shortly after a Southend corner, a Dave Williams tackle diverted the ball towards Seth who whipped a strike into the top corner beyond the desperate dive of Harry Taylor.
However the Knights wouldn't remain in the game for long and six minutes later Barnard completed his hattrick to make it 4-1 to the Legends. Matt Harrold wriggled away from some Knight defenders before dinking in a cross that was volleyed home by the ever impressive Barnard.
Six minutes later the Legends increased their lead further from the penalty spot. Former England C international Nicky Bailey went down in the box following a sliding challenge from Lewis Hayward, and Bailey picked himself up and dusted himself down to take the spot kick he won - and the 38 year old sent Clark the wrong way from the spot.
Four minutes later the Knights netted another consolation goal. The Legends could only clear a Connor Allen corner as far as Owen Young who jinxed his way past a handful of United defenders prior to to dinking the ball past Taylor and into the top corner making it 5-2.
The Knights wouldn't remain only three goals behind for long and with 73 minutes on the clock current Southend first team manager Maher made it 6-2 with a first time effort that looped over Clark and in from 20 yards out.
With nine minutes left to play two United defenders linked up to bag a seventh for the Legends. White and Adam Barrett played a one-two just outside the area and the former, who currently plays his trade with Braintree Town, curled the ball into the bottom corner.
There was still time for the Southend Legends to find an eighth goal with Grant adding some gloss to the score line. Goalkeeper Clark went up for a Knights corner in a bid for glory. However, unfortunately for him Southend cleared and broke forward with Grant lobbing home into an unguarded net.
This resulted in the game finishing 8-2 to the Southend United Legends. The game proved to have a great impact with over £1,000 being raised for James from the raffle alone.
Goals
Southend United Legends: Barnard 6', 18', 60', Harrold 23', Bailey (p) 66', Maher 73', White 81', Grant 89'
The Farke Knight Rises CFC: Seth 54', Young 70'
By Nathan Williams
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