The match between Cafc vets and the Demelza Charity team finished in a defeat of 5-2 for the our vets at Sparrows Lane on Saturday.
The Vets had to reshuffle as players dropped out in the morning of the game. The situation was even worse when the Demelza team arrived with a certain MIKE BAILEY as their manager and PETER VARNEY as his assistant. When I saw the opposition ages from 20-30 and MIKE BAILEY given a team talk on the pitch with a clip board, barking out instructions I knew this was serious stuff.
Mike Bailey shook my hand before the game and said with a smile on his face " Shame about some of your vets pulling out" So game on.
Playing football on a hot day is great but remember my players are of a mature age, Mike new this and encouraged his young players to run and run and it paid off as with the help of home officials they went 2-0 up in no time, I am sure the linesmen decided to look the other way every time a well drilled defense by our captain of the day MICHAEL PAYE called offside.
We did have some great chances and when a penalty was denied for a definite handball we knew we was up against it. The first half finished 4-0 but that did not reflect how we were playing.
Ok half time talk, I had some good pros here, Richie Bowman, Leroy Ambrose, Michael Paye, Paul Linger, Paul Gorman I called on their experience to help our guest players to settle down and relax, slow the game down and knock it about after all i knew the opposition were young but surly they would tire??
Well tire they did, we had a great second half scoring 2 goals with Paul Linger and Alex Varney and hit the wood work about four times and more dodgy decisions by the officials denied us a possible draw.
Mike Bailey was happy with the result and agreed we made a second half come back, but refused to admit the officials made any mistakes !!!
Well to be honest Mike is a legend it wouldn't of been right to beat his team I must admit I told my boys to ease off in the second half.....
Great game great day and lots of money raised
Thanks to all the lads who made the effort and Lee Amis who worked very hard to arrange the game

Picture: Richie Bowman