Affinity Push On
May normally brings tension and an eye on other fixtures in the hope that other teams do Affinity a favour. Not this year. May sees Affinity cementing 2nd place in the table, a reward not only for some excellent performances of late but for three years commitment to the cause.
Affinity started the game on the front foot and played some attractive football from the word go. It wasn’t long before early pressure was rewarded with the first goal. James pinged a free kick into the danger zone, Ian’s goal ward header saved by the goalie with Mike C picking up his first goal of the day with a poachers finish. A sign of the confidence that Affinity now play with they were not content to sit back but pushed on and looked capable of scoring more with Fra and Mike C causing the Hinckley defence all sorts of trouble. Affinity’s midfield quartet looked tight with strong challenges and precise passes evident in this passage of play.
Affinity’s second goal was no more than they deserved. Ian’s shot found Fra who with his back to goal shot on the turn and the ball flew into the net. Affinity’s defence looked secure with Mark wishing he’d brought his Sudoku book to keep him occupied! Just before half time Affinity’s third goal effectively ended the game as contest. Reminiscent of Fra’s goal, Mike C finished off some good build up play with a lob on the turn to confidently put his second of the day away.
The cross field wind made precise passing hard in the second half, both sides struggling to put passes to the feet of team mates. Hinckley showed more attacking intention and Affinity’s defence were called on to clear a number of half chances. Affinity continued to push forward with some neat interchanges on the right hand side between James and the two Mikes. Affinity’s fourth and Mike C’s hat trick came from a nice flick on by Fra and Mike gave the keeper no chance.
The woodwork twice prevented adding Mike A’s name to the score sheet, one a lob to the far post and the second a rocket from the edge of the box. Hinckley restored some pride with a goal that robbed Affinity of a first league clean sheet of the season when Mark, who had controlled his area brilliantly all morning, was left with no chance as the ball was passed across an empty penalty box.
Special mention to Mike C for his hat trick, Mike A for another great all round performance, Ian for some great tackles in the centre of midfield and James whose played some great balls through and hounded Hinckley’s left sided midfielder the whole game.
