England 2018 Bid Team 3 – Press Xi 5

At the cold, blustery training ground of Barnet FC – a specially put together ‘Press XI’ enjoyed a dramatic 5-3 victory over an England 2018 Bid team that consisted of England’s most capped player – Peter Shilton, and a forward line led by former Leeds United striker Brian Deane and Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup winner Andrew Cole.

Despite a fine two-goal haul from Cole and an excellent performance by Shilton – that included a penalty save – the bid team were eventually overhauled by a Press XI that piled on the pressure straight from the kick-off.

With just 30-seconds on the clock the Press struck the inside of the post, and their dominance of the opening stages paid off when Mark Shannon coolly slotted past the onrushing Shilton.

But they say that a team is most vulnerable when they have just scored and that was the case as the 2018 team struck back immediately with a fine strike into the top corner from the skilful Daniel Slatter.

The game was played in fine spirit and referee Dermot Gallagher had little to do until Tom Caplan threw the ball back to Peter Shilton who picked it up – with the Press claiming a back pass, Shilton exclaimed ‘that was how it was done in my day!’ and Gallagher duly ruled in the ex-England goalkeeper’s favour.

Shilton was in the thick of things again when a penalty was awarded to the Press XI for a handball.

The most-capped England player saved Oliver Holt’s strike brilliantly down to his left to a chorus of cheers and was called into action two minutes later with a fine fingertip save round the post.

However, as the first half drew to a close, not even the energetic Bobby Barnes and a stout performance from towering centre-back Brian Bannister could keep the Press XI’s advances at bay – and they duly scored a fine quick fire double to make it 3-1.

With his work done, Peter Shilton sauntered off into the sunset to allow Howard Campion to fill his two left-handed gloves.

The Bid Team started the second half well, with Drew Barrand and Andrew Cole combining down the right hand side to gift Brian Deane with a golden opportunity which he fired straight at the ‘keeper.

But a defence splitting pass by Shannon opened up the Bid team’s defence and the Press extended their lead further with a simple tap in at the far post to make it 4-1.

Determined to get back into the game, the 2018 team began to string some moves together and a commanding Jonathon Gregory took the game by the scruff of the neck and started to dominate the midfield.

The Bid team’s resolve paid off when Cole combined with new Bid-team member Luke Peacock to glide past the Press defence and slot in a beautiful left footed finish from 12 yards.

However, the game was effectively decided when the Press caught the Bid team on the break to make it 5-2 with another tap-in at the far post after some fine play by Stuart Mawhinney and Jim Frayling.

But Cole, the former Manchester United forward, was at it again as he handed the Bid team a glimmer of hope with a clinical finish from 6 yards.

Despite some heavy pressure down the left hand side from Caplan and Simon Johnson, The Sun’s Shaun Custis led the Press XI defence boldly and it was all handshakes and banter at the final whistle.

Team list:

2018 XI

Andy Cole
Peter Shilton
Brian Deane
Bobby Barnes
Simon Johnson
Jonathan Gregory
Phil Mepham  
Kieran Nokes
Luke Peacock
Toby Murrill
Drew Barrand
Brian Bannister
Howard Campion
Tom Caplan
Daniel Slatter

Press XI

Custis
Northcroft
McGarry
Holt
McGrath
Barlow
Burt
Winrow
Shannon (The FA)
McCallum (The FA)
Herbert (The FA)
Ross Ashman (The FA)
Doug Marshall (The FA)
Andrew Conway (The FA)
Jim Frayling  (The FA)
Stuart Mawhinney (The FA)