Davy Harris, former player asked the club to arrange a friendly with the Northern Bank Over 40's in preparation for their return leg with the Danske Bank. After a lot of coaxing and actually finding guys that could still fit in a football shirt we gathered together at Gibson Park on 4th Nov to face the opposition. The match got underway at a decent pace but that didn't last long as the guys started to realise why most of them gave up playing years ago. The guys were playing some good football and created a couple of scoring chances but failed to make any of them count. They were then caught messing about with the ball at the back and let the visitors in to score. This boosted the opposition who then won a series of corners. John Keatley rose at the front post and nodded the ball past Squirts to make it 2-0. Quite unbelievable!!!
Halftime seemed to do the trick with the guys turning round looking a lot more serious about the game. Maurice and Geordie Bowden were knocking the ball about the back majestically (bet you never thought you would see that written again). Cunners and Big Gareth were running things in midfield sending Jim (I don't pass) Barry through on a number of occasions, but he couldn't score in a brothel so it was left up to Michael Waring to get the boys back in the game with a well taken goal. The best moment of the match then happened with Johnny Halliday crawling off the pitch after Big Gareth hit him in a tackle. After having got on the scoresheet the guys then tore the opposition apart with some super passing football. and eventually equalised through Michael Waring again. Pressing on again Skip finally put the guys in front and it looked like victory was sealed but the defence had other ideas. A long ball into the box saw them debating over was buying the first round and in popped the forward to make it 3-3. The match ended in a draw with everyone having enjoyed the game but dreading the pain to come from the aching limbs.
Squad D.Stanley, A. Hollywood, J. Halliday, S. Carlisle, G. Bowden, G. Wright, J. Barry, J. Keatley, M. Gracey, J. McWhirter, A. McVeigh, G. Halliday, G. Cunningham, R. Caldwell, M. Waring
