Affinity Bring The Cup Home
What a way to end the 2010/2011 season.
Cathedral the opposition, the University Of Warwick the venue, friends and families watching on. A sleepless night for some of the team indicated the sense of expectation on cup final morning.
The first half was a cagey affair with both sides cancelling each other out. Affinity's shape was good and there was plenty to pleased about in all areas of the pitch. A strong cross field wind made it diificult to judge long passes so passes down the line were the safe bet with Mike and Lee working the channels well.
The half time team chat was a simple one 'keep doing what we are doing, make sure our shape is good and want this more than them'.
As the second half progressed Affinity started to apply more consistent pressure forcing corners from both sides of the pitch. Most corners offered chances with Jamie and Ian meeting most crosses with headers that flew frustratingly over the bar. Lee made way for Gurps with 20 minutes left of normal time at a time when both sides were becoming weary having put plenty of effort in and it would be his intervention on the half way line that would lead to Affinity's 1st goal as Luke picked up Gurp's pass and his strike from the ede of the box was too strong for Cathedral's keeper to hold.
The celebrations that followed included Luke removing his shirt and diving onto the the high jump crash mat by the goal followed by half of the team. Luke then took 2 minutes to putbhis shirt back on and make it back to the half way line! His booking wasn't the biggest surprise of the day.
Affinity battened down the hatches and kept the response from Cathedral at bay. With the clock ticking down Cathedral's pressure paid off with a goal that would take the game to extra time. The last few minutes of normal time would see a fine save from Dale and two efforts from Affinity, the first a curling shot from Gurps headed for the corner of the net before being pushed for a corner by the keeper and the second a fine Affinity move finishing with a goal bound shot from Ian charged down by a last minute defensive challenge.
As extra time unfolded fitness became a real factor as cramp affected both teams. Affinity were forced to defend a series of consecutive corners and did so with textbook efficiency. Oli replaced Matt for the last 15 minutes and stretched the play with his extra energy keeping Cathedral pinned in their half. A series of Affinity corners ended with Affinity's 2nd and winning goal with Josh P's goal bound shot nestling in the back of the net via Jamie and Cathedral's goalie on the way in. Further celebrations followed and this time there was no way back for Cathedral as Affinity closed the game out. Cramp finally did for Ian giving Steve W a couple of minutes to ensure all players did pitch time.
Affinity celebrated the final whistle together and with family, friends and ex-Affinity players. A well deserved win.
No man of the match award for this game, this was the epitome of teamwork with no-one leaving anything on the pitch and certainly no regrets (although aching bones might beg to differ the following morning). A job well done boys. Let's see if we can defend it in 2012
