Sunday 22nd August 2021 KO 10-30 am
CHARITY FOOTBALL MATCH IN AID OF THE SPEEDWAY RIDERS BENEVOLENT FUND
WAGGY’S FOOTBALL SELECT X1 (1) 7 v ROSCO’S SPEEDWAY CELEBRTITY X1 (1) 1
Waggy’s;
Scott Cross 18, 51
Will Bates 69
Neil Champlovier 73
Lil Fuccillo 61
Jory Mann 75, 88
Rosco’s;
Sargent 7
Att; 90
As you will probably know our Chairman Waggy was big on the British speedway scene before he returned to his football roots and to our village club. With this in mind he set up a ‘Bikes with no brakes’ extravaganza with all the takings going to the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund. Former Cobblers player and prolific goalscorer Steve Phillips took on the role of putting together what was basically an ex-Northampton Town X1 to face a team of celebrities from the world of Speedway. Off the pitch it was also good to see former Cobblers players and managers come along to watch and catch up with old friends with former Cobblers manager and still a legend Graham Carr one of those in attendance. There were various ages and levels of fitness in the ‘home’ squad, but they were boosted by the inclusion of a few younger legs to help see them through.
Waggy’s Football Select XI;
(1) Adam North (ex-Cobblers and Cogenhoe Utd, currently playing for North Leigh)
(9) Jake Sharpe (ex-Northampton Spencer, currently working for BBC Radio Northampton Sport)
(12) Will Bates (ex-Cobblers, current Cogenhoe Utd player)
(14) Ian Benjamin (ex-Cobblers)
(16) Neil Champlovier (ex Cobblers and Cogenhoe)
(18) Colin Moulds (NTFC player’s bar manager)
(19) Aidy Mann (ex-Cobblers and former Cogenhoe manager)
(20) Lil Fuccillo (ex- Luton Town, Peterborough Utd and Kettering Town player)
(22) Scott Cross (ex-Cobblers)
(23) Paul Lamb (ex-Cobblers and Cogenhoe. Current Wellingborough Town manager)
(24) Craig Adams (ex-Cobblers, current Cooks manager)
Subs;
(8) Wakely Gage (ex-Cobblers)
(10) Jory Mann (current Sileby Rangers player)
(11) Archie Culley (ex-Cobblers, current Cooks player)
(13) Peter Walton (ex-Pemier League referee, current VAR guru and Radio Northampton pundit)
(17) Stevie Phillips (ex-Cobblers and many others who scored over 300 league goals)
(21) Sam Russell (ex-Cobblers)
There were a few expanded waste-lines in the Claret & White kit as Waggy’s XI had the first chance of the game but Champlovier was off target after being teed up by Benjamin. The Speedway boys then had a good spell and missed a good chance before they took the lead with seven minutes played. A ball over the top saw James Sargent run clear and he calmly lifted his shot past Northy and into the net.
A lovely exchange between Benji and Champs saw the latter have a shot blocked from inside the box, before Cross ran into the penalty area to go one on one with the keeper, but his low shot was saved. The Cooks won a free-kick a few yards outside the box after Benji had ‘gone down’. Aidy Mann was having this and having been one of the best locally from this sort of position a few years ago expectations were high, but his effort hit the wall and bounced safely through to the keeper. On 18 minutes we were level as Bates slipped the ball through to Cross on the edge of the box and he worked himself into a shooting position before despatching a low drive with power to the keeper’s right and inside the post with a cracking finish. The keeper did get his fingertips to the ball but the power was too much for him to keep it out.
Cross had a couple of shots from just outside the box while Rosco’s saw an effort from 30-yards out move in the air, but Northy adjusted himself well to catch the ball cleanly. A great challenge from Sam Russell denied the Speedway boys a good chance before a 25-yarder from Jory Mann stung the keeper’s hands and then he recovered well to dive on the ball before the incoming Walton could get there after getting his body behind a Cross free-kick. A great cross from Champs saw Adams get his head to the ball but not the direction as it went wide, then Cross went for goal again from 25-yards with most of his team mates moaning at him for not passing.
A great strike from outside the box by Culley saw the keeper dive to his left to make a fine save before Lamb went for goal from distance but put it wide. Jory was well over with another shot from outside the box at the end of the first half which will be remembered for Wakely Gage coming on as a sub in a pair of boots much to small for him and asking referee Darryl Hanna how long to go every couple of minutes.
Half-time; Waggy’s 1 Rosco’s 1
Culley set up Cross on the edge of the box but the Villa fan fired over, then down the other end Bully flattened the unfortunate no. 2. It would appear that the Cooks manager doesn’t do ‘uncompetitive’ football lol. Benji set up Cross on the edge of the box and his low shot was saved, but on 51 minutes he had his second of the morning as he turned the ball at the far from two yards after Walton’s cross had seen Champs go for the ball with the keeper, leaving Cross to reap the rewards.
He almost had his hat-trick moments later with an excellent turn and shot that forced a good save from the impressive Speedway keeper. Rosco’s team thought they had equalised with an absolute beauty from the edge of the box over North and into the top corner, but yesterday’s referee, now lino, David Jarrett flagged it offside. Cross almost set up Jory at the near post with a great low ball in from the right, but they had to settle for a corner and then a throughball from Jory sent Culley running into the box, but the keeper came off his line quickly to dive on the ball.
It was 3-1 on 69 minutes though as Jory fed Cross on the right and his low ball across the box was side-footed home emphatically in the centre by Will Bates. The pressure was all down the clubhouse end now and great work from Jory and Culley set up Champs on the edge of the box, but his powerful shot saw the keeper pull off yet another save. A lovely move involving Jory and Cross ended when Neil Champlovier placed his shot firmly inside the post on 73 minutes and two minutes later Jory Mann got his name on the scoresheet with a great finish in the centre form Culley’s pass.
Bates went on a jinky run that took him past a few yellow shirts but his pass to Jory was a little too hard allowing the keeper to get to it first, then the yellows had a little spell of the attacking play themselves. One good chance was lashed over the top before Northy was forced to make a save and after the rebound was put back past the keeper, Bates was now covering and cleared the ball off the line. We were now down to ten men as some of our more mature players sneaked off for a shower and just maybe a pint and we found ourselves a little stretched at the back, but were let off by a somewhat wild shot that flew well over the bar.
With six minutes remaining we added a sixth goal from an unexpected source. Left back Lil Fuccillo found himself inside the box and calmly slotted home a great Culley ball in from the right. Not bad for a 66 year-old.
Cross dinked the ball into the box and the keeper came out quickly to throw himself at Culley’s volley, then Culley broke into the box himself and forced another save out of the Speedway no. 1. It became 7-1 with two minutes left with a beautiful low drive from 20-yards out from Jory Mann giving the keeper no chance at all as it flew just inside the post. The chance coming after an awful touch in the box by Steve Phillips whom I’m sure will be claiming an assist.
Jory broke into the box in the final seconds and drew the keeper to create a chance to bag his hat-trick, but he unselfishly turned it back to Cross who had been screaming for the ball, but he fired his shot into the car park and the game came to an end.
Good to see Northy back between the sticks for the Cooks and personally to see Wakely Gage and Ian Benjamin on the pitch as they are two of my heroes from my days spent on the Hotel End. Special mention to the Speedway’s XI’s keeper, without him the score could have been much higher. Thanks to all those former players who laced their boots up for charity and to the Speedway lads who volunteered to play for their stricken colleagues and rivals. I sincerely hope we have helped swell your coffers today and wish Paul Ackroyd and his team all the best as they continue to help out those in the sport they love.
Referee; Darrell Horner
Assts; David Jarrett & Christian Leonte.
Eight goals and plenty of entertainment to brighten up an overcast August morning.
