A crowd of almost 200 lent their support to Biggleswade United’s Martin Russell in his testimonial game against Biggleswade Town.
In scorching conditions, Russell’s 10-year celebration as a United player provided an excellent pre-season match for the two Biggleswade sides and raised £310 for The Bedford Hospital Neo Natal Unit.
The Waders stormed ahead, scoring three goals in the opening 20 minutes, but United pulled themselves back into the game.
Jack Boyd had a goal disallowed that would have made it 2-1, but there was no doubting his next attempt.
Spotting Ian Brown off his line, he lobbed the ball over the keeper to reduce the arrears to 3-1 at the interval.
Making the most of their 20-man squad, United made wholesale changes in the second period and took the game to the Waders.
Reynaldo Carbon’s trickery had Town stretched and he scored United’s second of the day, cutting in from the right and firing home.
The biggest cheer of the day, though, was saved for Russell who made his exit from the game midway through the second half.