Legends on cloud nine!

Andy Sinton and Paul McVeigh hit hat-tricks apiece as the Spurs Legends registered a 9-0 win over a Charity XI at Harrow Borough FC on Sunday (September 7).

David Howells and Mark Gower were also among the scorers for the ex-White Hart Lane side while Stuart Nethercott was partnered by Andy Polston at centre-half as the Legends kept their first clean sheet since February.

McVeigh wasted little time in giving the Legends the lead, latching onto Gower’s through ball and firing home with just three minutes on the watch.

Garry Brooke’s header was deflected wide by a defender before Kevin Watson fed Sinton to make it 2-0 in the 19th minute.

Sinton saw another effort cleared off the line before a fierce shot from McVeigh extended the lead on the half-hour mark, although goalkeeper Gareth Howells had to be at his best to prevent the Charity XI from quickly pulling a goal back – the stopper flinging an arm into the air to prevent an attacker from chipping him in a one-on-one situation.

A double save from Howells’ opposite number left McVeigh still searching for his third goal, but the former Northern Ireland international wasn’t to be denied in the 39th minute as he latched onto Watson’s through ball and rounded the keeper before finishing from a tight angle.

Three minutes later, McVeigh sent a low ball across the face of goal for David Howells to smash home at the back post as the Legends carried a 5-0 advantage into the half-time interval.

Howells sent Sinton running free to score number six within nine minutes of the restart before Gower finished off a fine move involving Howells, Sinton and McVeigh with an acrobatic volley at the far post to further stretch the lead on 62 minutes.

Keeper Howells was also airborne three minutes later as he kept his clean sheet intact with a full-stretch diving save but, after Sinton was denied by the Charity XI keeper’s legs at the other end, it was the woodwork that kept the hosts out on 71 minutes as a 30-yard shot smacked off the bar and away to safety.

Sinton fired straight at the goalkeeper before finally completing his hat-trick with nine minutes remaining, sweeping home after Gower’s cross to the back post from the right wing was sent back into the danger zone by substitute Micky Southam.

The scoring was completed a minute from time when Southam collected the ball on the edge of the area and arrowed a shot into the top corner.

Spurs Legends: Gareth Howells, Andy Edmonds, Mark Falco, Andy Polston, Stuart Nethercott, Garry Brooke, Mark Gower, Kevin Watson, Paul McVeigh, Andy Sinton, David Howells. Subs: Micky Southam, Trevor Wilkinson.