The first outing against new side Genesis was another opportunity for Affinity to kick start their season. With a number of regulars not available Affinity welcomed Glynn for his first match and a first outing of the season for Aron in goal.
The team talk majored on keeping things simple and making good decisions with pace and pressure upfront. Affinity started well with these words ringing in their ears. The opening exchanges were even as the sides worked out the relative strengths of their opposition. Both defences needed to be tight as forward lines applied pressure with Fra and Ed playing a high line when either side had the ball. Affinity's defence were disciplined limiting the Genesis attack to half chances. Aron was called into action on a couple of occasions early doors and closed the door well.
The decision to switch Chris and Mark gave Affinity the option of Chris overlapping with his extra pace and this would pay dividends with the first goal of the game. Mark moved the ball to Gurps whose initial movement made space for Ian whose pass found Chris on the left wing and he took it to the goal line before cutting in and firing across the keeper into the side netting. A great team goal that proves how simple the game can be when played like this.
In both previous games Affinity had been ahead they had lost the lead quickly but keeping a disciplined shape across the park would mean that this wouldn't happen today.
The Genesis forward line were very mobile and technically able but Sean, Gilly, Henry and Chris snuffed out their efforts. The influence of the Affinity midfield on the game started to put additional pressure on Genesis with Ian winning everything in the air and he and Gurps playing some neat one twos to put Affinity on the offensive. Mark and Glynn were also playing their part in keeping Affinity on the offensive as they brought Fra and Ed into play.
Fra had an effort to double the Affinity lead before half time but saw his shot slip wide of the right post. The half time team talk was far more positive than the previous week's with more of the same on the agenda.
The second half started with Genesis showing a noticeable increase in energy which took Affinity a little by surprise but they weathered the storm with some disciplined shape in midfield and defence. A second goal came for Affinity to settle any nerves they had only being one ahead. The goal assisted by Gurps, who had moved to right midfield with Mike replacing Glynn at half time, he kept the ball in his feet as he danced down the right touchline before crossing the ball for Fra to finish powerfully.
Affinity's third goal came after a period of pressure from Genesis. With Genesis retreating slowly from a failed attack, Sean took a quick goal kick that reached Gurps on the right who controlled the ball and passed to Ian who slipped the ball to Mike A who beat the Genesis defender and finished nicely into the corner.
Affinity now playing with confidence looked like they would fashion a goal scoring opportunity from each attack. Mark had a couple of shots from outside the area and Fra had more time than he realised having charged down a clearance from the keeper with all these chances coming to nothing and leaving Genesis relieved. Genesis continued to be a threat but the Affinity defence were equal to all they could throw at them.
Chris continued to pose a threat down the left wing and Ed with his energy and physical presence kept the Genesis left back on his toes. Ed thought he had scored his first Affinity goal when he raced onto a ball slotted through to the edge of the penalty area and fired powerfully across the keeper and just wide on the left upright. Undeterred by this near miss Ed would repeat the process 5 minutes later but this time his shot found the net after beating the keeper. Great scenes followed with his team mates congratulating him near the touchline.
Genesis' shape at the back became somewhat chaotic with little semblance of a back four at times. Affinity exploited this with a fifth goal coming from a cross from Ian on the right finding Fra whose powerful shot left the keeper floundering.
To their credit Genesis continued to push forward and Affinity who had given everything to the cause were looking understandably stretched. Wanting to keep their first clean sheet of the season Affinity defended a number of corners with some clearances relying on just connecting any part of the body with the ball. Genesis made the most of one of their chances when a clearance ricocheted to Ronaldo who fired past an unsighted Aron. It was the least that Genesis' efforts deserved but a little frustrating for Affinity. A final chance late in the game fell to Fra to complete his hat trick but he met a cross from the right leaning back and saw his shot clear the wrong side of the bar.
5-1, a great performance built around effort, attitude and some lovely football. Forgetting the result the Genesis v Affinity experience was a positive one for both sides with the game played in a great spirit that contained all that is good about the church league.
The man of the match decision was thankfully a difficult one with a number of Affinity players staking a claim for it. In the frame were Chris for his goal and attacking forays as well as his strong defensive performance; Gurps for his cool head and role in three of the goals; Fra for his all action performance scoring twice and finding himself in goal scoring positions on other occasions; Ed for being a constant thorn in the Genesis side together with the goal of the day and Sean and Gilly for a strong centre back partnership leading to Genesis shots being taken mostly outside the area. With an immense centre midfield display in defence and attack epitomised by winning virtually every header and playing a significant role in four of Affinity's five goals Ian takes the man of the match award
