The seventh annual football match to raise money for the Jack O’Donnell Foundation took place yesterday.
Tim’s Legends took on Jamie’s Allstars at Tetsworth Recreation Ground on a glorious Sunday morning.
The opening half was a cagey affair, with neither team fashioning many chances. The half’s first real talking point came after 35 minutes as Dan Denton of Jamie’s Allstars burst through on goal. Legends ‘keeper Moby, came rushing out and the pair collided, leaving the latter unable to carry on with the game as he was forced off with an injury.
A Jamie Surman pile driver, cleared off the line being the half’s only other highlight.
The second half saw both teams sparking into life, and both missing fantastic opportunities to open the scoring. On the 70th minute the deadlock was broken, some naive defending from the Allstars stalwart Sean Abreu, meant that Dan Bradley was bundled over for a controversial penalty. Colin Smith stepped up and slotted home the penalty. But there was to be more controversy as the referee ordered for the penalty to be retaken as the Legends had encroached into the box. Smith showed nerves of steel as he calmly dispatched the penalty again. 1 – 0 to the Legends.
10 minutes later and it was 2-0, the Allstars couldn’t clear their lines and Keegan Simpson took full advantage, smashing the ball home, leaving the Allstars ‘keeper Max Abreu with little chance.
The Allstars kept pushing for a goal, and on 88 minutes they had their reward, Phil Connell’s shot beating the Legends substitute keeper. However Paul Simpson got the final touch on the line as Connell wheeled away in disappointment.
The Allstars couldn’t find an equaliser in the final two minutes and Tim’s Legends held on for a deserved 2 – 1 victory, and bragging rights for another year.
In total, the match raised £190.00 for the Jack O’Donnell foundation.
The Jack O’Donnell foundation was set up in memory of Jack O’Donnell who sadly passed away in the summer of 2010. Jack O’Donnell was a great athlete who was fortunate enough to find a sport he loved, and to receive the support he needed to enable him to achieve his potential. The Jack O’Donnell Foundation’s primary aim is to give other children the inspiration and financial support that Jack received, so that they too can achieve their potential in the sport they love. It is their aim to fund life changing/saving medical treatment to young people who are in great need, just as Jack was.
More information on the Jack O’Donnell Foundation can be found at www.jodf.org
