90 minutes for each to keep their Division 1 status, simple as that. The pre match team talk was simple really, let's give everything for each other boys and leave nothing on the pitch.
Playing with a strengthening wind in the first half Affinity's tempo was good from the start and they were first to most balls. With Mike A and Jamie bossing the middle of the park Affinity pushed forward with Will holding the ball up well and laying it off to Lee and the midfielders coming through.
Lots of Affinity possession turned into chances with Lee hitting the woodwork from a Jamie throw in. But Affinity didn't have it all their own way with Mosaic strikers keeping Affinity's defence honest and on their toes. Sean and Gilly were keeping the Mosaic wide men under wraps as well as covering Steve and Ian as they headed up the field to try and make the most of set pieces which had been identified as an area of weakness for Mosaic. Both Steve and Gary B spent some time on the floor in the first half after collisions with Jamie and Ian respectively but we're back in the fray soon after.
With a nil nil score line at half time both teams could probably make an argument for being best placed at the half way point. Mike Corden in Coventry for the weekend replaced Will at half time. Will had had a great first half and Mike's fresh legs immediately set at making life difficult for Mosaic's defence with almost immediate return.
Affinity took the lead a couple of minutes in when a corner broke to Steve on the edge of the penalty box and his shot hit the top of the post with Lee reacting quickly and steered the ball across the penalty area finding Jamie who nodded the ball home. A second goal followed shortly after from a Mike C throw in with Jamie heading home his second of the game.
Mosaic stunned at being 2 behind only five minutes into the second half turned on each other and Affinity enjoyed a period of further possession for the next 10 minutes. Mosaic having to find at least 3 goals at this point steadily built possession and pressed Affinity from both sides of the pitch. A break down the middle left side with a ball across the box left Ian and Steve struggling with the pace of the Mosaic strikers and Gary had no chance in preventing Mosaic getting a foothold back in the game.
With so much still to play for the game turned increasingly feisty. Jamie was surrounded by Mosaic players after a strong challenge on Josh Spicer and was ultimately booked following accusations of a two footed challenge. Gary saved well with his feet on a couple of occasions to keep parity with the scores.
Mosaic continued to push forward with increasing numbers and the game became more and more open. Affinity often found themselves 2 on 2 but couldn't find the composure in front of goal to put the game out of reach. Finally a third goal did come with Mike C bundling the ball over the line following a lob from Mike A.
With only a couple of minutes to go and Division 1 safety secured Affinity switched off at the back for a minute and Mosaic punished this with the goal of the game to make it 3-2. It was the last meaningful exchange of the game.
Affinity rightly celebrated the team performance of the season with everyone contributing and leaving very little on the pitch. Man of the Match goes to Jamie for his two goals and overall contribution which was as good as any personal performance seen during the season. A job well done. The cup semi-final is now the focus so in the words of Stevie G as Jamie reminded us #wegoagain
