It was goals galore in the fifth edition of the FJN Cup charity football match in partnership with Health & Protection, Lexxika and Wolfram UK last Friday.
The event raised £700 on the day for charity Wolfram UK with CEO Tracy Lynch also selling brilliant artwork created by her daughter Jennifer, who has the condition.
See the photo gallery from the afternoon below
While rain was anticipated all afternoon only one shower during the pre-match warm-up darkened the afternoon as the game was played in ideal conditions.
This year the game was contested between Team Kai and Team Stu. Team Kai was managed by Dan Small and Team Stu was managed by Nic Brown. Players aged between 18 and 55.
The game started at a lively pace with goalkeepers tested early on as both teams pushed for the opening goal. While Amit Bhudia (Libra) looked certain to open the scoring for Team Kai, Dan Stoner (Base Insurance) pulled off a brilliant save to keep the score at 0-0.
The deadlock was broken mid-way through the first half as Stu Perry (FJN) pounced on a through ball from the right before coolly slotting into the corner of the net to give his team the advantage.
The lead was doubled swiftly after the restart following a mix up between defence and goalkeeper which resulted in Timothy Felix (Charles Taylor Assistance) bravely charging in at the far post to bury the ball.
Team Kai rallied and the midfield duo of Richard Grover (Wingate EB) and Steven Thompson (Telus) grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and chances arrived.
Dean Tincombe (Axa) put in a lung-busting 50-yard run before placing his effort just wide of the post, but just before the break Thompson curled a strike from the edge of the area into the top corner to leave the game delicately poised at 2-1 at half time.
Second half goal spree
Previous iterations of the FJN Cup have seen more goals scored in the second half than in the first, and this game proved no exception.
Team Stu made an electric start to the 2nd half as Darren Nicol (Rossborough Healthcare International) forced an error at the back and rolled the ball into an empty net to make the score 3-1.
That third goal resulted in an unfortunate injury to keeper Jono Evans (Base Insurance) who was unable to continue with Steve Barber (Howden/Aston Lark) stepping-up to take the gloves for the remainder of the match.
And Barber was forced into action immediately to make a couple of crucial stops, one bound for the top corner, before Jack Craig (Howden) capitalised on another defensive mix up to put Team Stu 4-1 up.
Perry made the score 5-1 just moments later with a fine outside of the boot finish from the edge of the box.
However as Team Kai continued to dominate the play and chances a pair of quick-fire strikes from Bhudia dragged them back into the contest with the score at 5-3 and still with 20 minutes to play.
When Nick Hale (Engage) then buried a towering header at the back post to make it 5-4, the comeback looked on.
But yet another defensive mix-up contributed to the sixth Team Stu goal as a handled back pass gave an indirect free kick on the six yard line which Darren Nicol (Rossborough) hammered into the top of the net.
Team Kai would make the score 6-5 following a goalmouth scramble which saw both posts hit, a goal line clearance and a save or two from Dan Stoner (Base) before Bhudia claimed his second FJN Cup hattrick by bundling the ball over the line.
Though Team Kai pushed for an equaliser, it was Team Stu which took the opportunity to attack quickly and Jack Craig struck a 25-yard effort that via a deflection looped into the top corner.
This proved the final act of the game as Team Stu triumphed 7-5 in the 12-goal thriller.
FJN and Health & Protection would like to thank everyone involved with the game – the players, the sponsors, the supporters and the team at Horsham FC for allowing the use of their facilities.
