Legends head to Hardwicke after comeback win

The Spurs Legends team will be back in action on Sunday (August 10) with a fixture at Hardwicke AFC in Gloucester.

The Hardwicke All-Stars will provide the opposition for the lads, with tickets to see the match available on the day.

The venue’s full address is: Hardwicke AFC, The Close, Green Lane, Hardwicke, GL2 4QA. Kick-off is at 2pm.

The Legends head into the match on a high after they staged a spirited second half fightback to topple Badshot Lea 4-3 on Sunday (August 3).

Two goals apiece from Steve Slade and Legends team debutant Mark Gower saw the ex-White Hart Lane stars recover from a 3-1 half-time deficit to claim victory in a closely-contested match, held at Ash United FC near Aldershot.

Ruel Fox had the first effort on target for the Legends, his low shot on the turn forcing the Baggies’ goalkeeper to make a save at his near post with six minutes gone.

A rasping drive from David Howells zipped off the woodwork eight minutes later, while Slade was denied by the advancing keeper after Gower played him in behind the defence.

It was the hosts who took the lead on 17 minutes when Graham Hayes netted at the far post, with Spurs goalkeeper Gareth Howells forced to dive low to his left to prevent the deficit from being stretched two minutes later.

Parity was restored on 21 minutes when Gower drove low into the far corner from the penalty spot after being tripped in the area – but that only seemed to spur on the lively hosts, who scored twice more through Hayes and Darren Fripp to put their side into a commanding lead.

Events in the few minutes after half-time seemed to indicate it wasn’t going to be the Legends’ day – David Howells saw his angled effort saved and then curled narrowly wide of the post a few minutes later, while Slade’s shot went straight at the Baggies’ custodian.

But when Gower skipped free behind the Badshot Lea defence and clipped beyond the advancing stopper on 69 minutes it was game on.

The Legends were soon back on level terms after Slade smashed into the net from eight yards three minutes later and, after an excellent covering tackle from Brian Statham prevented an attacker from getting a shot away when he appeared to be clean through at the other end, Gower set up Slade to make it 4-3.

Slade hit the post eight minutes from time and also tested the Baggies’ stopper twice more before the end of the match, with the Legends comfortably seeing out the remaining minutes with their advantage intact.

Spurs Legends: Gareth Howells, John Lacy, Andy Edmonds, Brian Statham, Stuart Nethercott, Garry Brooke, Mark Gower, Kevin Watson, Steve Slade, Ruel Fox, David Howells. Subs: Micky Southam, Warren Gravette.