Manchester United’s Legends prevailed against their Southampton counterparts in an eight-goal thriller at St Mary’s on Saturday.
It was an enjoyable occasion for all involved, which marked the 50th anniversary of Saints’ victory over United in the 1976 FA Cup final.
The 3,000-plus United fans packed into the Kingsland Stand on a sunny afternoon on the south coast witnessed an entertaining second half as our former stars rolled back the years.
Former Reds strikers Stuart Pearson and Andy Ritchie were in the United dugout, while one-club man Matt Le Tissier - a much-respected opponent - was player-manager for Southampton.
The action got under way with a typically sublime piece of skill - a backheel no less - from Dimitar Berbatov, who hit the post in the fourth minute with a low shot inside the box. He was set up by Antonio Valencia, who showed electrifying bursts of pace throughout that we became accustomed to seeing during his 10-year spell as a Red.
Southampton took the lead in the 13th minute through Lee Barnard, who flicked Andrew Surman’s left-wing cross past Raimond van der Gouw.
The Reds were dealt an injury blow when Louis Saha appeared to hurt his right thigh and had to be replaced midway through the first half by Academy product Fraizer Campbell.
United began to dominate proceedings as Darron Gibson’s curling effort and Danny Webber’s angled drive brought saves from Saints goalkeeper Tommy Forecast, while Valencia was somehow denied a penalty after being clearly tripped in the penalty area by Southampton skipper Michael Svensson.
The reward came seconds before the break as Phil Bardsley - who had earlier hit the post with a cross-cum-shot from the right - drilled an arrowed finish into the bottom corner after being fed by Valencia.
The comeback was complete just four minutes after the restart as Campbell had the simple chance of turning the ball home to make it 2-1, after Webber’s byline cross was spilled by the goalkeeper.
The hosts drew level in the 61st minute as Rickie Lambert converted a dangerous cross from the left by substitute Sam McQueen. But as an action-packed second half unfolded, Campbell grabbed his second goal two minutes later, sweeping home after Valencia played a one-two with Berbatov when his initial shot had been blocked.
Campbell was unfortunate not to clinch a hat-trick when his powerful header from substitute Danny Pugh’s centre came back off the underside of the crossbar.
The drama continued as, midway through the half, the Reds were awarded a penalty when Berbatov was tripped by Victor Wanyama but our former no.9 saw his spot-kick saved by Forecast down to his right.
Moments later, Southampton equalised as Barnard tapped into an empty net from close range from Jos Hooiveld’s square pass, to notch his second of the afternoon.
The chances kept on coming for both sides as Wanyama miscued his finish from a glorious position and Reds captain Ronny Johnsen headed a corner straight at the keeper.
A flurry of substitutions saw plenty of familiar faces get a piece of the action, with Le Tissier receiving one of the biggest cheers of the day when he came on in the 82nd minute for the hosts.
It was a United replacement who had an immediate impact as Bojan Djordjic’s pass released Campbell in behind the Saints defence and he picked out Webber to put the Reds back in front.
Webber missed a glorious chance to double his tally just a minute later when Campbell played him in, but Forecast got himself in the way to divert the ball for a corner.
However, the Reds did make the game safe in the final minute and sealed a deserved victory, with Bardsley netting his second goal on the break after positive work from Webber and Gibson.
MATCH DETAILS
Southampton XI: Forecast; Richardson, Hooiveld, Svensson (c), Benali; Wanyama, Surman; Tessem, Pele, Lambert; Barnard.
Substitutes: Blake, Monkou, Cockerill, Hughes, McQueen, Le Tissier, Forbes.
Goals: Barnard 13, 69, Lambert 61.
United XI: Van der Gouw; Bardsley, Johnsen (c), Brown, Simpson; Djemba-Djemba, Gibson; Valencia, Saha, Webber; Berbatov.
Substitutes: Pilkington, Djordjic, Pugh, Campbell.
Goals: Bardsley 45+2, 90, Campbell 49, 63, Webber 83.