Form is temporary, class is permanent was the saying of the day at the MTFC old-guard showed the current side how to play at Braywick last week, beating them 3-1 to repeat last year's success!

Man of the match Neil Barker and skipper David Jenkins held the Jan Dunne trophy aloft in Town's annual charity day where the club raised £1800 for MacMillan Cancer, through the charity efforts of Craig Dunne's DC60 Challenge. After the match, a successful BBQ and Race Night helped the club total over £4000 for the charity.

The game started brightly with Town playing a 4-4-2 formation, lead striker Mitchell Burley testing Legends Keeper James Larkin early. Yet with loanees John McKrell and Mark Maclean playing through the middle - purchased by a crafty Jenkins for £10 per head - the Legends coped well with a bare squad, similar to all those years ago. The deadly strike-force of David Hennessey and Dave Moore were left on the bench to start as all-time fan's favourite Neil Barker led the line to start. And it was the slowing master technician that opened the scoring, following a wonderful run and cross from Marc Doyley Boyle, released away by the striking Chris Garraway, to whom the years have been kind.

The rugged Phil Lowe, to whom those same years haven't just been kind but overly generous, marshalled Rich Harling well and with Jenkins and Garraway trying to stop Mark Lomas from swapping shirts early, Legends looked good. Yet with Sam Angel & Ashley Waite beginning to exert their youth on Maclean, Town began to play. The introduction of new signing Gary Moore and a switch to a middle-three allowed Town to pass through Legends at will, Gavin Croxford and Ben Trillow mere bystanders. Yet the impenitrable wall of James Larkin, the Legends' stopper proved too big a challenge, until Mitchell Burley tucked home a nice finish, before being wrongly adjudged off-side from lino Hennessey, who later confirmed over a Pino Grigio that he didn't really know the rules.

Burley did fire home his second goal in successive Legend's matches, a tidy slot, before Doyley restored the lead for the old-timers, a sweeping strike after finding space between Alex Ferguson & Matt Clements.

But it was the wonderful strike from Barker that stole the show. After 50 minutes, Chris Connell dazzled Clements with his twinkle-toes and the slightly overly regulatory referee blew for a foul (it couldn't have been more obvious). With the Legends awarded a freekick 20 yards from goal in a central position, Barker subbed himself back on to the field having paid £20 to be on free-kicks and stood over the ball proudly like a Texan truck-driver would his roadkill. A wicked right-foot swirling strike was delivered and beat Sam Hutchinson to nestle in the right hand corner of the net. Following a short yet manly celebration, The Hitman then subbed himself back off for a well-earned drink.

In truth, Hennessey and Moore, the latter supposedly a "keeper" by trade, never posed a threat moving forward but with Town's wealth of changes, the current side looked a little disjointed and failed to create many chances. The ballwork of McKrell was keeping Town at bay and with manager Jeff Beck placing himself up front, the stage was set for a rousing finale.

A delightful, well-timed Beck run was found expertly by Angel, his pinpoint accuracy required to take Phil Lowe completely out of the game, his pace not allowing any recovery. After one bounce, and the physically impressive Larkin filling all but the merest glimpse of the netting, Beck took goalscoring matters into his own hands 25 yards from goal. One bounce, then a sweep of the left outstep, half-volleying with a degree of inward spin, striking the ball sweetly. The Mitre Ultimatch (never been found after this game?) arced precisely past Larkin to nudge the post on it's way in to the goal. Chaotic scenes as Town's fuelled supporters raced to the 'told you so' Beck to celebrate.

Yet Michael Biff Byford decided, wholly against the spirit of the game, to disallow for offside (it wasn't) so it didn't count.

Town offered a debut for new Youth team goalkeeper Joe MacDonald, just 16, as Sam Hutch decided to try playing up front again and the young stopper saved well low from Croxford to highlight his potential. Indeed MacDonald managed a mazy run from the back, resulting in a low strike at goal from 30yards, safely maintained by Larkin.

The thoroughly enjoyable game ended 3-1 to the old guard and the man of the match Neil Barker lifted the newly named Jan Dunne trophy.

The evening saw a Race Night & BBQ at Boyne Hill Cricket Club which, along with match-day programmes and donations from players and supporters, allowed Town to offer £1800 to the DC60 Challenge.

Thank you to all that helped, including Mike Powell at Boyne Hill Cricket Club, Owen Roberts, Neil Barker, David Jenkins, Olly Jones, Ben Trillow & Gavin Croxford for the bouncy castle, Tim Hutchinson for photos, and all that attended, donated and took part.

We look forward to next year's event.

MTFC

MTFC: Sam Hutchinson, Matt Clements, Alex Ferguson, Owen Roberts, James Guest, Sam Angel, Ash Waite, Rich Harling, Tom Jeffries, Mitchell Burley, Sam Evans, Aaron Brinsden, Jamie Kingston, Mark Lomas, Gary Moore, Matt Langley, Jeff Beck, Joe MacDonald

Legends: James Larkin, Craig Dunne, David Jenkins, Chris Garraway, Phil Lowe, Mark Maclean, John McKrell, Gavin Croxford, Neil Barker, Marc Boyle, Michael Byford, Dave Moore, David Hennessey, Chris Connell