A SCHOOL’S fourth annual football match between staff and sixth form students raised more than £2,000 for a hospital charity.

The event, organised by former pupil and referee Andrew Spenceley, drew in close to 300 spectators to the town’s Brewery Field stadium on Friday May 15.

It raised £580 in ticket sales, more than double that of the previous year, and a further £1,500 through raffle tickets for the Children’s Heart Unit Fund (Chuf) at the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle.

This year’s match was extra special as teacher Dean Cooper turned to the Freeman when his daughter Libby was ill and their efforts helped to save her life.

It took staff just five minutes to open scoring through Liam Clough’s breakaway strike, Ben Jiggins added a second six minutes later to give staff an early cushion.

Having lost two of the previous three fixtures, the Sixth Form started to fight back and on 38 minutes Carl Tyers scored with a 35-yard strike.

Tyers again found the net to level the score just before half time.

Year seven students and teachers provided half time entertainment with a penalty shoot-out.

The second half was closely contested but the staff finally capitalised on their efforts in injury time through Ethan Rivers’ strike, who completed a brace just seconds later to punish the Sixth Form and wrap up a hard-fought 4-2 victory.

Man of the match for the Sixth Form went to Michael Burch and captain Andy Lowe landed the honour for the staff.

Although this year’s match was proposed to be the last of its kind, Andy said: "Hopefully this event can continue to grow into something even more special next year."

The £2,000 donation was accepted by Arthur Campbell, of Chuf, with thanks from staff and children at the Freeman.