Truly a Beautiful Game
Ullathorne School has been a happy hunting ground for Affinity of late and today was no exception. Being our first match against ARYPT2 we weren’t sure what we would be facing, so it was a little surprising to be faced by a 4-5-1 formation. The first exchanges were even as both teams came to terms with the set up of their opposition.
Affinity were first to score with Ian breaking free and beating the keeper at his second attempt. ARYPT weren’t about to lie down and pushed forward and were rewarded with an equaliser. Affinity’s response was clinical and a further four goals followed before half time, 2 for Mike C, and 1 each for Lee and Josh P who got a final touch as James followed up quickly after Mike C’s penalty struck the cross bar and rebounded into play.
All these goals involved measured build up play and slick passing involving a number of players and unselfish team work playing others in better positions in with decisive final balls. The only blots on the half was a further ARYPT goal, a shot through a penalty box, the result of Affinity not marking quickly enough from a set piece and a nasty injury to Luke that meant he wasn’t able to carry on.
The half time team talk was easy. Keep doing what we have been doing and guard against complacency. Now playing down hill Affinity made and used increasing amounts of space. Moves flowed from one side of the pitch to the other and down both flanks. One particular move that followed this pattern involved seven Affinity players eventually finding Ian but his shot was just outside the post. He immediately made up for his disappointment with a fine header to add to his goal tally which totalled 4 by the end of the game. A further 2 goals for Ian and 1 each for Mike C and Lee took Affinty’s goal haul to 10. ARYPT, naturally despondent by being on the back foot most of the second half, scored a consolation penalty to take the score to 10-3.
This half of football was comparable to our 2nd half performance against ARYPT1 on the same ground last year. Total football. Such was the ‘team’ part of this performance that picking a man of the match seems unnecessary. 4 goal tallys don’t come around too frequently (though Affinity have now managed 6 of these in the last three seasons - good job no-one has demanded a match ball every time they score 3!), however, this was the first from a midfielder. Ian’s all round performances this year have been first class so it’s fitting he takes the accolade today. Also of particular note was the stylish contribution from Mike A in the second half both in attack and defence.
Next up Myton-Jubilee. Another unknown quantity but confidence is high for another all action team performance.
