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Holbeach United Football Club stage the second Adam Jackson memorial match




Past and present footballers turned out in force to remember a team-mate in a memorial match at Holbeach United on Saturday.

The Tigers staged the second annual Adam Jackson memorial match where a team representing the successful Holbeach United Sunday side took on Ahoy There FC.

It brought together a collection of players - some still plying their trade at a decent level in the non-league pyramid with others having enjoyed good careers with either the Tigers or their near neighbours Spalding United.

Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes

Current Tulips skipper Nathan Stainfield and Stamford striker Michael Frew were both part of the Ahoy There team along with Holbeach legend Dean Elston and Andrew Tidswell, the latter who served both clubs with distinction.

Former Tigers players Jonny Allen, Matt Warfield, Spencer Tinkler and Tommy Treacher formed the back-bone of the Sunday side along with the likes Dan Dougill and Cal Davies who started their careers at Holbeach before moving to Deeping Rangers.

Frew and current March Town player Dan Cotton both bagged braces for the Ahoy There team who ran out 4-3 winners with Allen, Davies and Stephen Jackson - Adam's father - on target for the Tigers.

The two teams line up before kick-off. Photo: Chris Lowndes
The two teams line up before kick-off. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes

Stephen was part of a five-strong organising committee with Luke Jackson - Adam's brother - Tim Cole, Danny Hussey and Sharla Slayven whose hard work was rewarded with an excellent day which drew a big crowd to Carter's Park.

A memorial bench for Adam was unveiled ahead of kick-off where there was a minute of applause for the former Spalding and Holbeach player who tragically took his own life in March of last year.

Both sides traded chances in the opening exchanges with Treacher seeing an early shot safely gathered by Ben Derbyshire in the Ahoy There goal.

Adam's wife, Emma, with daughters Myla and Ennis at his memorial bench. Photo: Chris Lowndes.
Adam's wife, Emma, with daughters Myla and Ennis at his memorial bench. Photo: Chris Lowndes.
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes

Liam Hook flashed a fierce volley just over the Holbeach crossbar while Davies curled a shot wide at the other end after a mazy run,

Holbeach made the first breakthrough when Stacy Cartwright's pinpoint cross was powered home by a bullet header from Allen.

This sparked a strong response from the Ahoy team with Tidswell seeing a well-struck shot blocked by Luke Nicholson while Holbeach goalkeeper Leigh Overton saved well at point blank range from Joe Smith after a John-Paul Duncliffe cross had been turned goalwards by Ollie Pinner with Frew bundling the rebound wide.

Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes

The equaliser then arrived when Smith sent Frew clear and he teed up to Cotton for a comfortable finish to level the contest.

Frew and Cotton predictably were a constant thorn in the side of the Holbeach defence and they combined again only for the latter to be thwarted by a fine stop from Overton.

Pinner dragged a good opening wide from Cotton's pass before the ex-Yaxley play-maker released Frew who rounded Overton to put Ahoy There into the lead.

Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes

Holbeach had a gilt-edged chance to equalise late in the first half when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Treacher but Josh Ford blazed the spot kick high and wide.

A plethora of changes were made at the interval to give everyone who had volunteered their time some minutes.

James Tricks tested Holbeach goalkeeper Adam Kirk early on but he was equal to the shot while Tinkler steered an effort over at the other end from Cartwright's back post free-kick.

Adam's wife, Emma, with daughters Myla and Ennis at his memorial bench. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Adam's wife, Emma, with daughters Myla and Ennis at his memorial bench. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Action from the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Stephen Jackson, Adam's dad, receives a signed match ball from Cambridge United player Danny Andrews. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Stephen Jackson, Adam's dad, receives a signed match ball from Cambridge United player Danny Andrews. Photo: Chris Lowndes

Ahoy There then extended their lead when Frew lifted his finish into the Holbeach net despite the best efforts of Jonny Clay to clear off the line.

Cotton added the fourth with a trademark fierce strike before Holbeach rallied in the latter stages of the contest.

Tidswell - who had swapped sides at half-time - saw a goalbound shot deflected over by Duncliffe while Davies also went close from distance.

The two teams before the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes
The two teams before the Adam Jackson memorial match at Holbeach United. Photo: Chris Lowndes

Davies cut the deficit when he converted at the back post following a strong run and cross from Jack Keeble.

The fitting finale then arrived when Holbeach were awarded a second penalty late on and, although Stephen Jackson fired his first effort wide, the spot kick was ordered to be retaken due to encroachment and he made no mistake second time around.

It brought an end to an entertaining contest where the nominated charity, the Samaritans, was the real winner as a healthy amount was raised for their excellent cause.



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