PLAYERS past and present were out in force to celebrate Michael Walker’s Poole Town testimonial.

Taking on a side of Cherries legends mixed with the under-21s squad, Walker, who will now retire from football, put together a team of ex-Dolphins stars while members of Tom Killick’s current team were introduced in the second half.

Walker, who made 297 appearances during his Poole career, played the first half at centre-back but the hosts were run ragged at Black Gold Stadium as Cherries raced into a 4-0 lead at the break.

Moments after Brian Stock’s shot had been brilliantly tipped onto the post, Steve Lovell raced through to break the deadlock.

James Hayter soon doubled the tally before Carl Fletcher dinked in a third. The first-half scoring was complete when Lovell teed up Anton Robinson to slide into the bottom corner.

Walker spent the second half as a striker, battling with Steve Fletcher, who lined up at centre-back for Mark Molesley’s Cherries. He raced in on goal just moments after the restart, but twice fired straight at goalkeeper Gareth Stewart.

However, Walker did get his goal, slamming a fierce left-footed shot into the bottom corner in the moment of the match.

Lovell quickly restored the four-goal cushion but the best strike of the evening arrived through Dolphins’ Jamie Whisken, lashing in from 25 yards to bring the score back to 5-2.

Poole chairman Chris Reeves said: “Our dressing room was absolutely rammed with faces from our immediate past. It was a fantastic reunion.

“Michael’s certainly been a very important part of our past and he deserves a good send off.”

A sportsman’s dinner will be held for Walker on June 22 at Cobham Sports Social Club.

Tickets are priced at £45 per person. For more details contact Laura Walker on walkerl85@hotmail.co.uk.