With the first league match postponed it would be a cup game with LOWFORS that would open Affinity's 2015/2016 season. A first game for Henry, the fourth De Vogel to don an Affinity shirt and seven years after his golden boot winning season a welcomed return for Fraser.
And what a start to the game it would be for Affinity who from the kick off moved the ball out to the right to James who beat the left back and whipped in a cross that Andy swept into the left hand corner of the net. The pace of the game only picked up from this point and before Affinity could settle into any pattern and shape LOWFORS were level with a striker moving onto a through ball that pierced the Affinity defence firing past Steve R as he tried to narrow the angle.
The middle section of the half was one Affinity would like to rerun as LOWFORS broke through Affinity's defence a further three times leaving them shell shocked to find themselves 4-1 behind in a game that had started so positively. LOWFORS seemed to be getting the rub of the green with poor first touches falling to another LOWFORS player.
Affinity's shape improved towards the end of the half but through balls more often than not had too much pace on them with the LOWFORS keeper swallowing them up without having to compete with Fra or Andy. Fra had a chance that went the wrong side of the post and Andy narrowly missed connecting with a header from a James corner that would have likely beaten the keeper. The Affinity midfield were working hard to get the ball down and keep possession but it seemed like an uphill battle against an energised LOWFORS team.
Having tightened up the defence Affinity conceded a cruel fifth goal before half time with a ball crossed from the left evading the defence with Steve R slipping as he tried to clear. Half time gave time to draw breath and try and take stock of the things we hadn't done well in the previous 45 minutes.
Cutting out personal mistakes and improving decision making would provide the base to mount a come back with the target being to win the 2nd half. A fighting attitude underpinned Affinity's improvement as they fought to get a foothold back in the game. Possession and pressure on LOWFORS shifted the balance of power in the game and chances followed. Ian and Gurps strangled the centre midfield bringing James and Henry more into the game and a tightened defensive line with Gilly and Sean leaving LOWFORS with just scraps from their breaks. Mark and Steve G tucked in when required and Affinity looked a far tighter unit than in the first half.
Steve G's long throws increasingly became an attacking force keeping the LOWFORS defence honest. A second Affinity goal came from Fra hounding the keeper and as the ball ran free leaving him an empty net to fire into. A third Affinity goal nearly followed as Fra's goal bound effort hit the inside of the post and agonisingly flashed past the other post without crossing the line.
A third goal did come with James heading a Steve G thrown in into the side of the net. The momentum was now firmly with Affinity the only question being whether there would be enough time to find more goals. The goal of the game and a fourth for Affinity came with 5 minutes remaining. James stood over a corner on the Affinity right with a packed box waiting for the delivery but a ball on the floor to Gurps just outside the area was met first time and drilled into the top right hand corner of the net.
The last 5 minutes was a frantic affair with LOWFORS taking every opportunity to waste a bit of time. No further chances ensued with the game ending 5-4. LOWFORS knew they had been in a proper game of football and Affinity disappointed that they had fallen just short of getting something out of a game that had looked dead and buried in at half time summed up the emotions after 90 frenetic minutes. Plenty for Affinity to build on and tighten up on.
Man of the match goes to James with a goal and two assists and a high energy performance on the right of midfield. Special mention also to Fra for his comeback display, Ian and Gurps for their battling in midfield and Gilly and Sean for their dominance in the second half
