Mill Hill 3 Clifton 1

MILL Hill secretary Pete Fryer did the Ice Bucket Challenge during the half time break - then saw his side pour cold water on Clifton’s Charity Shield hopes.

The bone-chilling dunking is the latest craze sweepng the nation and Pete was only too happy to get wet and do his bit for charity.

Everyone gathered at Griffin Park were also doing their bit for charity with proceeds from the annual Blackburn Sunday League curtain raiser going to the British Heart Foundation.

However, the temperature on the pitch was certainly a lot higher than the icy blast Pete had to endure.

This was as competitive as pre-season matches get – the league champions up against the cup winners.

But what else would you expect when the league’s two stand-out teams go head-to-head.

And while it was a match that champions Mill Hill ultimately ended up winning, Clifton – who lifted the Blue and White Rosebowl back in May – certainly have reason to be cheerful for the campaign ahead.

After cancelling out Carl Mercer’s early opener, Clifton were the better team up until Mill Hill regained their advantage thanks to Tyler Hayhurst’s stunning free kick.

But that is why Mill Hill are champions. Clifton started on the front foot but were completely undone when Mill Hill centre back Lee Lysons dissected their defence with a long pass and Mercer stayed cool and composed to thread the ball home under Scott Grant.

Mercer, who was a threat throughout the game, then found himself in space but blasted over before his next effort – following a neat exchange with Alex Butterworth – lacked pace and was cleared off the line.

But Clifton played their way in to the game and captain Roberto Bonaminio fizzed one effort just over after striding out of defence.

Liam Hoyle then set off on a surging run down the left flank and his low cross was met by thumping effort by Paul Coote which was equalled by a fine save by Ian Valentine.

Coote then had a goalbound effort superbly blocked by Lysons before Clifton got a deserved equaliser.

Coote, who was excellent as a lone striker, and Ollie McLean were both involved in the build-up before Aaron Davis crossed for Hoyle to head home at the far post.

But Mill Hill were always a threat and a wonderful ball by Hayhurst picked out Mercer who cut back inside his marker but dragged his shot across goal.

At the other end, Coote was unlucky to have a goal ruled out after the referee, Zac Bamber, adjudged he fouled the on-rushing Valentine as they challenged for the ball.

Clifton took that momentum in to the second half and Graham Perkins, who pulled the strings for Clifton in the middle of the park, narrowly missed the target with a firm header from a Davis free kick.

Adam Hughes, on a second half replacement for Ash Nixon, then headed a corner just over the bar before Adam Tempest fired weakly at the keeper after good work from Coote.

But Mill Hill survived and then showed Clifton how to make the most of their chances.

Hayhurst, who wasn’t afraid to get stuck in and who was booked moments early for one crude challenge too many, put Mill Hill ahead with a wonderfully struck free kick from outside the area.

It was a superb piece of skill.

Clifton replied with a Hoyle effort that Valentine did well to hold on to. But Mill Hill stretched their lead with their next meaningful attack. The fleet-footed Alex Ralph whipped in a cross from the left, Mercer rose to flick on and Butterworth was unmarked in the goalmouth to turn home.

A fourth goal nearly arrived soon after when Hayhurst showed his range of passing, picking out sub Mark Buxton whose centre was met by a diving header by Mercer that went just wide. Mercer was again denied moments later, this time by a fine Grant save, before strike partner Liam Fryer fired wide.

But Clifton kept on coming and Perkins had two efforts well blocked by Lysons while another Bonaminio pile driver just cleared the bar. Mill Hill may have won the first silverware of the season but both sides will take positives out of the clash and will relish doing battle in the season ahead.

Such was the tempo of the match then that Ice Bucket Challenge that Pete Fryer endured might have seemed like a refreshing prospect to those players on the pitch.