Charity Football Game for The CATS Foundation – Event Summary

With a few minutes to kick off the around 30 people had turned up to watch the game and the atmosphere was starting to build. Everyone now wanted to show what they were made of.
Anglo went with a 4-3-3 formation and the Giants went with 4-4-2.

The first half kicked off and the Anglo Old Boys started well with Dan Lewi up front doing well to hold up the ball and make use of rugby days. Nick Philips and Rob Grogan looked sharp and were both happy to fly down the wings to get on the end of some long balls.

After an assured start Anglo went 1-0 through Dan Lewi after 20 minutes when he was set up by good work from Dan Reeve hassling down the Giants Keeper. Dan took his goal well and then went off for a rest, with Ben Cobb replacing him.

Geordies Giants were always pressing though and could of had a couple of goals if it wasn’t for some fine saves from Ian Henderson in the Anglo goal. The front 2 of Simon Elliot, Matt Judge and James Falconer backing them up on the left wing were all a constant threat to the Anglo goal but the back four of Anglo were marshalling them really well and making some very well timed tackles. There were many chances in the final 15 minutes of the half from both teams, Ben Cobb heading inches wide of the Giants goal. However with a minute to go until the half time whistle, (and with Giants actually down to 10 men with Nick Jones off the pitch receiving treatment) James Falconer pounced after a mix up at the back and great work from Matt Judge, scoring one back for the Giants to make it one all going into the break.

The second half would be a show of fitness from both teams and the midfield battle started to heat up with Anglo Old Boys players Simon Beauchamp and Paul Willis wining a lot of the headers and tackles in the middle but just not quite able to get the ball on the the floor and find space where it mattered. From the Giants team, Tom Collins started to roam forward and find space and was getting closer and closer to scoring as one shot went wide, then another hit the post. Then out of what seemed like no real danger, a fine cross from David Atkinson in the the Anglo box saw Simon Elliot rise highest and connect perfectly to it to head the ball in the back of the net. 2-1 Giants lead.

Although the Giants second goal seemed to knock the wind out of Anglo slightly there was still plenty of effort from everyone and some good work by Anglo saw Dan Reeve break free and attempt a long range chip which had the keeper well beaten but unfortunately hit the bar. With the rebound eventually falling to Simon Beauchamp on the edge of the area, he struct a clean shot but it just grazed the post. This didnt feel like it was going to be Anglo’s day, As everyone was now starting to feel the heat and exhuastion was setting in the game was really starting to open up and after a Matt Judge effort on goal was well defended by Anglo unfortunately the ball richocheted and fell to Tom Collins who stole in and scored with a great finish. 3-1 Giants.