Legends heading to St Albans after Guernsey goal-fest!

Darren Anderton and Mark Falco were among the scorers as the Spurs Legends team hit the goals trail in Guernsey on Saturday (April 18).

The pair contributed to a fine first half showing on the island in which the team bagged six goals against Guernsey Rovers Vets, with the ex-White Hart Lane stars keeping the hosts at bay after the break as they tried to mount a comeback – the lads ultimately running out 8-4 winners.

It all served as an ideal warm-up for one of the Legends’ toughest games of the season against a Herts XI at St Albans City FC this Sunday (April 26).

Kick-off is scheduled for 2pm at Clarence Park, York Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 4PL and tickets will be available on the day.

The Legends went to the Channel Islands in good form last weekend, with Ossie Ardiles acting as guest manager for the day. He named a strong starting line-up that saw Graham Roberts stationed just in front of the back four with Paul Miller at centre-half and Tony Galvin at left-back.

Paul McVeigh and Andy Sinton continued their fruitful attacking partnership up front and it was the latter who fired the visitors ahead after three minutes, stylishly finishing across the goalkeeper after his arched run into the right channel was spotted by the excellent Anderton.

Three minutes later the Islanders drew level through Adie Le Sauvage, who was also on target when the Legends beat Guernsey Rovers 6-2 on home soil last year, but parity lasted only four minutes. Anderton, made captain for the day by Ardiles, picked out the run of Falco and the reliable veteran found the far corner from the right side of the box.

There was a strong wind blowing across the Port Soif pitch despite the bright sunshine, but the lead was extended on 17 minutes when, after Sinton was upended 22 yards out, Anderton’s low free-kick outfoxed the defensive wall and went in at the far post.

The midfielder was denied by the keeper 10 minutes later following a neat exchange with McVeigh in the box, but a flurry of goals shortly before the break put the Legends out of sight. A 39th-minute cross from guest player Ralf Little was flicked on by fellow substitute Trevor Wilkinson with Brian Statham tapping into the net at the far post, before Falco played a through ball for McVeigh to deftly chip the advancing keeper two minutes later.

Then, two minutes before half-time, the ball fell kindly for Anderton at the edge of the box and he drilled low into the far corner to make it 6-1.

McVeigh was denied by the keeper and Statham curled over the bar in the opening stages of the second period, but the hosts pulled a goal back on 65 minutes when Geoff Martel converted from the penalty spot after right-back John Lacy was adjudged to have fouled Le Sauvage.

Two minutes later, Le Sauvage netted from John Tough’s cut-back as the Islanders tried to build some momentum, but the Legends had other ideas as Anderton set up Little to lash home a left-footed shot on 69 minutes.

Back came Rovers with Le Sauvage completing his hat-trick less than 60 seconds later, but the visitors had the final say when Anderton found McVeigh on the right side of the box and the former Northern Ireland international fired in at the near post to complete the scoring 14 minutes from time.

Spurs Legends: Gareth Howells, John Lacy, Tony Galvin, Graham Roberts, Stuart Nethercott, Paul Miller, Darren Anderton, Brian Statham, Paul McVeigh, Andy Sinton, Mark Falco. Substitutes and guest players: Trevor Wilkinson, Ralf Little, Don Batiste, Chris Dyer. Manager: Ossie Ardiles.