Teddy hits hat-trick for Legends - next stop St Albans!

Teddy Sheringham hit a hat-trick as the Spurs Legends team beat Guernsey Rovers Vets 6-2 in Chigwell on Sunday (April 20).

The former England international, part of another star-studded line-up of former White Hart Lane favourites, scored twice in the first half and once more in the second as the Channel Islanders’ challenge was swept aside at Colebrook Royals FC.

The Legends went in front after just seven minutes, one of Rovers’ defenders inadvertently heading Darren Anderton’s right wing cross into his own net under pressure from Sheringham.

A high ball in from Andy Sinton was headed wide by Sheringham six minutes later, before Sinton himself tested the visiting goalkeeper with a shot following Ruel Fox’s lay-off.

The lead was doubled on 24 minutes when Sinton latched onto a good ball out of the Legends’ territory from Garry Brooke and surged down the right channel before crossing for the onrushing Sheringham, who volleyed first time into the bottom corner of the net from just outside the area.

Despite the scoreline, Rovers rallied as the half went on and went close on several occasions. Goalkeeper Gareth Howells made two fines saves and, after another shot cannoned back off the bar, Paul Miller and Mark Falco – playing at left-back – made vital blocks to prevent the visitors from scoring.

Having withstood that spell of pressure, the Legends increased their lead when Sheringham converted Sinton’s cross from the left on 37 minutes – only for Rovers to respond within 60 seconds, Adie Le Sauvage curling the ball home from 20 yards out.

It was three minutes into the second half by the time the three-goal cushion was restored. Anderton was dispossessed in the area and the ball ran to substitute Steve Slade, who smashed home at the near post.

Any latecomers might have been forgiven for thinking they were watching a crossbar challenge in the moments leading up to the hour mark as first Guernsey hit the woodwork at one end, before both Sinton and Anderton crashed efforts against the horizontal frame of the goal at the other!

Still battling hard, Rovers pulled a goal back on 63 minutes when Paul Bourgaize fired into the roof of the net from close range, but any hopes the visitors had of mounting a comeback were extinguished when Sheringham exchanged passes with Sinton in midfield and shot low inside the far post to complete his treble with 13 minutes left.

Keeper Howells was forced to tip a fierce header over the bar at the other end before Slade went clean through behind the defence and chipped the onrushing stopper to complete the scoring in the 90th minute.

There was still time for Rovers to hit the crossbar once more, but the result was never in doubt.

Spurs Legends: Gareth Howells, John Lacy, Mark Falco, Paul Miller, Stuart Nethercott, Garry Brooke, David Howells, Andy Sinton, Teddy Sheringham, Darren Anderton, Ruel Fox. Subs: Steve Slade, Mark Stimson, Micky Jarrett, Micky Southam, Warren Gravette, Trevor Wilkinson.

The Spurs Legends team returns to action this Sunday (April 27) at St Albans City FC.

Kick-off is at 2pm – why not pop along to see some of our well-known former players rolling back the years?

The full address of the venue is Clarence Park, York Road, St Albans, Herts, AL1 4PL. Tickets will be available on the day.