Stars put on a show (From This Is Local London)

Stars put on a show

5:26pm Thursday 15th September 2005 in

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Boreham Wood All Stars 5
Arsenal Celebrity XI 3
Phil Beer Memorial Game

The FA Cup was on parade at Boreham Wood FC on Sunday for the Phil Beer Memorial Game, in which the Borehamwood All Stars, managed by Dave Lewis, took on ex-Arsenal and celebrity players.

A good sized crowd were at the club to see the match, held in memory of Mr Beer, a 22-year-old hairdresser from Masefield Avenue, Borehamwood, who was killed in the London bomb attacks on July 7.

Celebrities such as Tony Hadley, former lead singer of Spandau Ballet, and Martin Offiah, ex-Great Britain rugby league international, joined former Arsenal stalwart Ian Allison and a host of other ex-Gunners in the Arsenal Celebrity XI.

The All Stars included a mixture of local players, ex-Boreham Wood players and guests, including Dean Austen (formerly of Spurs), manager Steve Cook and coach Mick Engwell.

The game was played at a surprisingly fast pace, considering the age factor, and was more or less even until the deadlock was broken by the All Stars after 15 minutes.

Lee Talbot scored first, and another goal from Austen quickly followed. The All Stars defence, Matt Howard, Mick Engwell, Phil Walker and Dave Lewis, coped well with the pressure of the celebrities' attacks.

However, the spritely Offiah picked up a goal for the visiting team.

Some great saves from veteran keeper Gary Philips helped to keep the score down for the celebrities down. Dene Lewis came on after 25 minutes for dad Dave, and Alan Arnold for Ross Brady. This added zip to the All Stars.

The celebrities hit back in the second-half with two well taken goals to make it 3-3, but after that the pressure was on the celebrities, with Howard, Andy Myers and James Taylor forming a solid defence.

Cook, Austen and Arnold were monumental in controlling the midfield for the All Stars, with Aaron Murphy coming on to add to the solidarity.

With Talbot and Neil Burrows lively up front, the pressure led to two more goals for the All Stars.

The final score was 5-3 to the All Stars in a memorable match.

The highlight of the game was Tony Dekanski marking Offiah. Both men gave everything in an epic contest.

After the game, the celebrities joined All Stars players and the public in the bar to round off a great evening of fun at this fundraising event.

Dave Lewis, who organised the event in support the Beer family, afterwards thanked all who had helped in putting on the event, in particular everyone at Boreham Wood FC.

BOREHAM WOOD ALL STARS: Gary Philips (capt), Rob Blackburn, Dave Lewis, Mick Engwell, Kevin Scott, Matt Howard, Phil Walker, Dene Lewis, Ross Brady, Lee Talbot, Dean Austen, Andy Myers, Steve Cook, Neil Burrows, Alan Arnold, Tony Dekanski, Aaron Murphy.