LOWFORS at Whitley Common for a home game may have seemed a bit risky but Affinity would give them a lesson in how to pass the ball for 90 minutes and the results you get from doing that.
Playing uphill first half Affinity started on the front foot with lots of good possession and moving the ball around well in triangles which would be a feature of the whole game. The possession paid off when Gary was fouled in the LOWFORS area. Luke stepped up and sent the goalie the wrong way.
Affinity continued to press looking for a second but it was obvious that defensive shape would be important as LOWFORS latched onto one ore two loose passes bringing Dale into the game. During this period and throughout the game Affinity made some fine well timed sliding tackles to relieve the pressure. LOWFORS scored there only goal of the game with a shot from the edge of the box that was deflected in off the post.
Affinity's response was to go back on the attack and some good movement on the left between Jobo, Luke and Josh P led to a rare left footed finish from James. Defensively Jobo, Ian, Nick and Gilly were in control and comfortabley turning defence into attack. Nick didn't produce a stray pass all game.
Lee and Josh were working hard joining up the play and Lee had the ball in the net only for the linesman to controversially put his flag up without being up with play. An important two goal cushion would come before half time with Gary cooly releasing the ball to Nick whose cross field run was rewarded with a fine finish.
Affinity turned the screw in the second half with 7 more goals to register the first 10 goal haul for a couple of years. Most of the team waded in with goals. Josh P and Ian with shots from the edge of the box, a second for James with a fine finish from the right, Gilly and Jobo both rewarded with a goal from determined runs into the box, Gary a header following up a save from the keeper and a goal for Will on his debut.
LOWFORS were deflated but kept going to the end. Affinity could have increased the punishment with a couple of shots just missing right and left uprights when the hard work had already been done,.
A great win with a great team performance. All team members made an important contribution. The defence made a significant attacking contribution all scoring as well as joining play up. The midfield led the passing master class completing a high % of passes and covering miles making themselves available to team mates. The attackers worked tirelessly giving LOWFORS defence no respite.
A case could have been made for a number of players to take the man of the match award but it goes to Gary who marshalled the midfield superbly and made significant contributions in both attacking and defensive boxes
