THERE was something a bit odd about the two teams posing together in a rabble on the Harrogate Town pitch on Wednesday night.

As a group of people they were wildly mismatched - a selection of ex-pros, the young promising ones, a batch of Sunday leaguers without the customary post Saturday hangover, and a girl.

But football brought them together - as it does - to have a kickabout with some legends of old and raise a shedload of cash in the nameof a young man who probably would have jumped at the chance to play if fate had played him a bystander card rather than cast him a leading role in such a tragedy.

The man in question was Matt Gadsby - the Hinckley United defender who collapsed and died at Wetherby Road two months ago during a Nationwide North match.

It brought back harrowing memories for York City fans - and so close to home - of David Longhurst, another young footballer in his prime who was sent to the great changing room in the sky some 16 years almost to the day previously.

Harrogate Minstermen, the City supporters' group, got in touch with Harrogate Town to make some magic and some cash. And they managed a little bit of both.

The minute's silence was ditched for a minute of applause which sent a white pigeon ghosting under the cover of the main stand and up the sideline.

And then all the attention was back on the pitch. Even before kick-off, Pickering Town boss Alex Mathie, the ex-City striker, looked to be feeling the top of his left leg while his strike partner did a great impression of looking cold.

Moments later, red number four - Will Moss, or as he became dubbed in the notes, Chopper - steamed in on the young Harrogate Town number ten. Game on.

Goal number one comes six minutes in. A sensational run down the right by one of the Town academy starlets with more flicks and scissors than a celebrity hairdressing series sees him beat former City stopper David Stockdale.

Number Ten strikes again but this time hits the bar, and Number Seven rattles the edge of the post, before a one-touch move threads its way through the left of midfield.

If it wasn't for Stocky - who leapt at the chance to get involved as soon as he spotted the thread on the YorkCityFC.com forum - it would have been another goal.

Mathie hooks up with a larger-than-his-York City days Paul Barnes for Barney to make the Town keeper work, and give it' Al comes close to getting the Minstermen off the mark with a left-footed volley from a corner.

At the back, Andy McMillan is holding fort alongside the Harrogate Minstermen reds as Stockdale keeps shot after stinging shot out.

Mathie nutmegs the Town number three. Number Three fouls him back when he catches up. Town captain and first team boss Neil Aspin watches with mild amusement.

And in the middle of the park, Ricky Sbragia announces his recent arrival with a lovely little run.

There aren't many games where a cold-looking face in the crowd at half-time suddenly transforms into Andy Bishop on the pitch but this was one, and he did his bit with Jimmy Seal battling in the midfield.

Nigel Outhwaite - dad of Harrogate Minstermen match organiser Paul - pulled on his goalkeeping gloves for the first time in 20 years' in the second half and the scoreline shifted - mainly thanks to two goals from Dave Thomas and a Robbie Whellens hat-trick.

But the fun was still there. Chris Topping entered the fray, while an injured Jon McCarthy watched from the sidelines.

Paul Outhwaite said: "It's gone really well. It was fantastic to see so many of the old players either playing or watching.

"We are very grateful for them turning up. A few had to withdraw due to injury or club commitments but it was great to see them."

The score ended 7-0 despite the efforts of Minstermen man of the match Will Minikin at left-back.

But the real result was the £1,500 raised from gate receipts, programme sales, a raffle, donations and a post-match auction, and Matt Gadsby's family will pick a charity to send it to.

Drink in the atmosphere

FANS group York Minstermen have proved they can organise a drinking session in a brewery after pencilling in a tour of York Brewery.

The fundraiser comes at a price of £6 a head at the Toft Green venue which includes a pint in the bar before and after the guided tour, plus a pubs and bars of York quiz with a raffle to win York Minstermen goodies.

York Brewery have agreed a discounted price to enable the group to raise some funds for the club.

To book tickets, email mark@yorkminstermen.org.uk, catch a What's On flyer from distributors in the car park, or ask in the York City Social Club before today's game or the Dagenham & Redbridge game.

Donaldson's up and away

ANOTHER mercurial performance from Clayton Donaldson has lifted him eight points clear of the rest in the Press player of the year standings after pocketing York City man of the match plaudits against Altrincham.

But Martyn Woolford is creeping up after setting up the match-winner and is now third, while new loan-signing Jason Goodliffe took his third point since joining the club.

Donaldson is also on top of the new player of the month chart for November after getting the fan vote from the Alty game.

Don't forget to cast your votes by emailing dave.flett@ycp.co.uk with your name, address and daytime contact number after every match to be in with a chance of presenting the monthly winner with his prize on the pitch before a York City home game.

Press player of the year latest standings: Donaldson 23 pts, Farrell 15, Woolford 11, Craddock 9, Bishop 9, Foster 8, Peat 7, Evans 6, Convery 5, McGurk 5, McMahon 4, Dudgeon 3, Goodliffe 3, Panther 3, Parslow 2, Bowey 1.

November player of the month standings: Donaldson 5, Woolford 2, Goodliffe 1.

Goals: Donaldson 12, Farrell 3, Woolford 3, Convery 2, Peat 2, Bowey 1, own goal 1.

Assists: Donaldson 8, Convery 3, Farrell 3, Bishop 2, Bowey 2, Woolford 2, Craddock 1, Goodliffe 1, Panther 1, Peat 1.

Bad boys: Craddock 1 red card, 4 yellow; Peat 4 yellow; Donaldson 3 yellow; Panther 3 yellow; Evans 1 red, 1 yellow; Bowey 1 red, 1 yellow; McMahon 2 yellow; Convery 1 yellow; Dudgeon 1 yellow, Farrell 1 yellow; Goodliffe 1 yellow; Greenwood 1 yellow.