A first meeting with New Horizons for many a year gave the opportunity for a much needed confidence boost. With our other cup group opponents playing on the adjacent pitch the group standings would be fairly clear by the end of the games.
Affinity started well securing most of the possession in the early stages. Horizons gave Affinity a lot of time and space on the ball and they used it well. Gary and Jamie back together in the middle exchanged passes and brought Steve G and Charlie into the game. James and Mike were willing runners up front but out of their natural midfield positions were somewhat out of their comfort zone.
A number of chances came and went and Affinity should have been awarded a penalty when the Horizons’ keeper brought Mike down just inside the box. The referee inspected the ground and decided a free kick was the right course of action. It wouldn’t be the last time Affinity would question the referee’s judgement. The free kick came to nothing though.
The Affinity defence for the most part were comfortable, with having so much time the factor that might catch them out. Gilly growing game by game swept up most loose ends with a style not seen since the days of Gareth Davies. Gilly made an impact at the other end of the pitch scoring Affinity’s opening goal with a driving run from defence and neat interchange with Steve G before sliding the ball past the keeper.
Affinity continued to have the lion’s share of the possession for the rest of the first half but were not able to build on their lead with Jamie narrowly missing after a lovely dummy and resulting pass from Mike.
Horizons’ made 3 substitutions at half time and started the second half on the front foot pushing forward with a degree of confidence. Affinity struggled to gain control of the ball and a degree of frustration set in. Chances came though and Gary narrowly headed over the top from a corner with Mike putting a shot wide after being through by Jamie.
A second goal came at a good time for Affinity after absorbing some pressure from a couple of corners. Steve R rarely called into serious action during the game had to be on his toes to clear from the second of the corners. The goal of season so far for Affinity saw James take a pass from Gary on the right side and a well judged lob caught the underside of the bar and the net.
With only a few minutes remaining Affinity took the game by the neck and scored a couple more goals that made the score line more reflective of the possession and chances in the game. The third was Steve G’s first in his 2nd Affinity period a tidy finish at the far post from a pass from Mike and Steve G returned the favour minutes later for Mike to score a goal that his effort during the game deserved.
Although the opposition weren’t strong a four goal haul gives Affinity the platform to move on from with the upcoming games against Cathedral and the final cup group game with ARYPT2.​ Man of the match goes to Gilly for his all round performance including the goal that got Affinity started
