WHEN a Poole Town XI and a Select XI clashed at Tatnam yesterday, for once, the result didn't matter.

This was an occasion with one simple aim - to raise money for Andy Culliford.

Once of Poole Town, Wimborne Town, Bashley and Bournemouth Poppies, Culliford has battled against motor neurone disease since 2011.

More than 1,100 fans and stars of football past and present gathered to raise money for the former firefighter's medication fund -which requires a £400 daily payout - on a sunny afternoon in Dorset.

See all the pictures from the Andy Culliford benefit match in a gallery 

It was an eclectic mix of players, not to mention fitness levels.

Cherries boss Eddie Howe took his place in the Select XI midfield while club legend Steve Fletcher - not so long ago the scourge of Football League defenders - started at centre-half.

Poole Town rolled back the years in similar fashion with recently-retired non-league legend Taffy Richardson donning the red and white shirt once again.

Aptly, Culliford kicked off the game and it was the home side that hit the front first when Dan Cann flicked a header into the net in the 10th minute.

Despite improvement from Select XI, led by the assured display of Howe in the middle of the park, the hosts eventually doubled the lead.

Aaron Skelton was in the right place at the time two minutes before the break and lashed a volley beyond the helpless Stewart Kearn.

Select XI needed an inspiring half-time team talk from boss Harry Redknapp, but he and ex-Poole striker Charlie Austin instead focused their attentions on soaking Daily Echo sports reporter Andy Mitchell for his ice bucket challenge.

Changes were rung in the second period and Richardson appeared to have ended the game as a contest when he struck soon after the break, only for Martin Thomas to pull one back from the penalty spot.

Liam Thomas reduced the deficit to a single goal and then Marcus Browning levelled matters at 3-3.

Jamie Holland's audacious volley was the pick of the later goals with Stuart Brown also converting for the hosts.

However, the Select side upped their game in the final 25 minutes and took the scoreline to a respectable 6-5 at the final whistle.

The result was immaterial. The supporters that entered the gate and paid money towards a valuable cause provided something far more meaningful.

Anyone who would like to make a donation in support of Culliford can do so by paying into the Andy Culliford Benefit Fund. The account number for the NatWest account is 46136738 and the sort code is 52-41-37.

For further details visit www.andrewculliford.com.

Poole Town: (from) Jason Harvell, Tony Avery, James Wood, Neil Wardle, Taffy Richardson, Stuart Brown, Paul Maloney, Aaron Skelton, Darren Mooney, Andy Culliford, Leigh Phillips, Gary Fletcher, Matty White, James Bailey-Pearce, Gary Funnell, Dan Cann, Jamie Holland, Tom Killick, Gareth Barnes, Richard Glenister, Micky Hubbard, Darren Reeks.

Select XI: (from) Stewart Kearns, Danny Robbins, Jo Tessem, Dave Cameron, Ian Baird, David Baird, Russell Beardsmore, Eddie Howe, Jason Tindall, Stephen Purches, Simon Culliford, Terry Culliford, Marcus Browning, Anthony Tilley, Liam Green, Martin Thomas, Guy Dipper, Lewis Till, Chris Marwood, Wayne Fereday, James Beattie, Steve Fletcher, Charlie Austin, Ryan Woolfenden, Fred Austin.