Last Minute Goal Makes It A Winning Start
With conditions similar to those last time they were at ‘The Rec’ Affinity started their season up hill against the wind. With both teams feeling their way into the game the first period of play was enthusiastic but lacking in real quality. Affinity’s first goal of the season was reward for chasing down the Binley defence with Lee getting the final touch. Binley responded well with moves down both flanks testing the Affinity defence. The first equaliser came from a flicked header from a throw in which left Mark unsighted until the ball was passed him.
Binley pushed on and scored a fine second goal with Tony Bowls meeting a cross from their right wing to slam the ball into the corner of the net giving Mark no chance. It looked like Binley would take a lead into the second half but Gary stole in unmarked on the edge of Binley’s penalty area to meet Jamie’s throw in and head Affinity level on 40 minutes. It was no less that the effort deserved.
Affinity knew from experience that turning round on level terms should give them the advantage for the second half. Neither team had enjoyed a long period of possession in the game and both sides realised that the next goal would be important. It was no surprise when Binley’s equaliser came from the impressive Bowls who made the most of some sloppy Affinity defending to take his track trick. Josh replaced James, who had not trained for most of the summer through injury, and was instrumental in Affinity’s third goal. It was his measured free kick met again on the edge of the penalty box by Gary who made no mistake to match his goal tally for last season.
Affinity’s midfield had been working hard all game breaking down Binley’s supply chain and through the physical presence of Gary and Jamie in the centre and Oli and Mike A stretching play out wide Affinity started putting sustained pressure on the opposition. Darren entered the fray and Ian moved to his third position of the game at centre back.
The wind became increasingly significant for Affinity in the last quarter of the game with Jamie using it from the both left and right hand sides of the pitch. The first a free kick that he’d won himself that dropped just under the bar and into the net. Binley were not going to give in lightly and with 10 minutes to go made it a 4-4 game with a cool finish from a left side cross. The clock ticked down with both sides anxious to avoid making any mistakes this late in the game. With seconds to go Jamie launched a thrown in from the right which sailed towards the back post and was met by Mike C who had laboured without reward all game until then. In some ways it was cruel on Binley, who had played their part in a hard fought tussle, to lose it at the death.
Affinity know they can and will play better but it’s great to get off to a winning start. Special praise to Jamie and Gary who showed the way by being first to the ball at important times and to Ian for playing all over the pitch, literally! Also to Mark whose knee looked like sidelining him earlier in the week. Bring on Meredith Road
