Trialists’ skills too much for the celebs

12:29pm Thursday 5th July 2007

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LA Galaxy Triallists 7 Celebrity All-Stars 2 Former Guiseley AFC Junior Matthew Lewis, better known by millions as Neville Longbottom of Harry Potter fame, flew in his celebrity team last Sunday to play Rancell UK's LA Galaxy bound trialists at Keighley's Cougar Park.

Matthew's squad had been bolstered by the inclusion of Unibond Premiership player Craig Hall of Guiseley.

Matthew explained he had the winning formula before the match. Alas, it was not to be, much like his screen spells, it didn't go quite as planned.

Neither he nor fellow Potterites Oliver and James Phelps (Fred and George Weasley) or Alfie Enoch (Dean Thomas) could turn their on-screen magic into goals and victory on the pitch against the tireless trialists.

The Rancell team was victorious 7-2.

However, Matthew had the satisfaction of knowing it was his pressure which led to Rancell right back and former Guiseley junior colleague, Tom Wilkinson conceding an own goal to level the scores. This came after Tom Dibb had given the trialists the lead.

John Butcher regained the lead for Rancell, cutting inside the All-Stars full back James Hooton, (Emmerdale's Sam Dingle) before rounding the keeper (The Good Die Young's Paul Wolf who kept Alex Lawler of The Match and Mike Bassett England Manager from his customary goalkeeping spot in the first half. Lawler played a roving outfield role in the first half.

Taking up his more usual role between the posts as the second half commenced in torrential rain his outstanding saves and physical presence coupled with the battling qualities of Hall stopped a rout.

In sapping conditions and with very little support Hall covered every blade of grass and standing puddle. Lawler stopped the Rancell onslaught, thwarting Man-of-the-Match Aaron Hollindrake, Daniel Moriarty and Jamie Duffy's goal bound shots.

But he was left floundering by Guiseley's Scott Morrison's cross-goal shot, which nestled in the corner.

Fittingly, it was James Phelps (George Weasley) whose trickery on the ball secured a late consolation for the Celebrity 11, and the final score of the game.