Football - Old Boys' Veterans v SES 2nd XI

Date: Saturday 15 November 2008

Now a fixture on the fixture list is the match in which the 'more experienced' of the Old Boys' fraternity takes on the youth of the School's 2nd XI. Every year the regulars return to show their skills for 40 minutes, and then find the pace a little too much in the second half.

So it was today, when a squad of 16 or so Old Boys, some dating back to the early 1970s, took the game by the scruff of the neck and scored two sumptuous goals through the hirsute Paul Walker - a drive from 40 yards that soared into the top corner of Ali McMaster's goal, and a curled left-foot drive from Stuart Surrage-Wilson. The School barely created a single chance up to that point as Kris de Pledge and Henry Mason bottled up the defence.

The second half was as expected, as the Old Boys, with David Finch and Chris Gremo - younger and fitter than some of their colleagues - strove to hold on to the lead. Mark Thomas got one back as he tapped in a Charlie Burns pull-back, and an equaliser came as Kamaal Khatumal headed in a corner from the right, driven across the six-yard box.

Both sides strove for the winner, and Andrew Barrett pulled off a stunning point blank save to save the Old Boys' face in the last few minutes. 2 - 2 was a fair final score, well reflecting the changing fortunes of a game played in a competitive and entertaining spirit.

It was good to see so many old faces - I hope they will come back again next year to resume the contest!