London Financial FA vs Amateur Football Combination 2003

London Financial FA 4 Amateur Football Combination 5 - 29th January 2003 at Zurich Eagle Star, Warlingham.

Amateur Football Combination: James Holdsworth (Old Hamptonians), Colin Jones (Albanian), Lewis Delaney, John Nelson (Old Danes), Alex Hugh-Jones (Old Meadonians), Steve Surridge (Old Aloysians), Lee Harper (Old Danes), Ben Fox (Old Meadonians), Chris Sonne (Old Camdenians), John Jeyes (Old Danes), Francis Birch (Old Aloysians), Subs: Dave Harvey and Stewart Minors (Old Danes).                 

London Financial FA: Peter Dale (Coutts & Co), Rory Litherland  (Royal Bank of Scotland), Peter Harvey, Barry Harmon and Steve Pester (Bank of America), Bryn Jones (Coutts & Co), Danny Mahoney  (Granby), Ian Dennis (Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein), Mark Dingwall (Royal Sun Alliance), Des Phillips (Royal Bank of Scotland), Simon Falconer (Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein), Subs: Alex Bennett, Gary Peacock (Royal Sun Alliance) and Mark Chandler (Bank of America).

Match Report  (courtesy of Del Saunders).

An amazing game with first one side on top then the other gave the spectators marvellous entertainment on a bitterly cold day. Chris Sonne with 4 goals broke the hearts of the LFFA side whose own hero was Des Phillips with a hat-trick, which on a normal day would have been enough to secure victory.

The hosts made an impressive start and were one up in 1 minute 25 seconds according to the Assistant Referee. They forced a corner on the left, which was not cleared and Phillips was quickest to react tucking the ball into the far corner. The AFC side, much changed from their last game at Oxford University, struggled to settle down and with Rory Litherland, impressive at the heart of the LFFA defence, found it easy to quell any incursions into their half of the field. The visitors, after 12 minutes were awarded a free kick deep into the LFFA half. This caused some consternation but the ball was eventually cleared off the line and from a quick break, Phillips found himself in plenty of space, didn't panic and coolly slipped the ball past the keeper for a 2-0 lead. A third goal followed some 15 minutes later. The ball, again was not cleared from a corner and Peter Harvey was on hand to score with ease. The game completely changed within the space of a minute. The hosts dropped their composure at the back for just a second and Sonne made them pay beating the offside trap, giving Peter Dale no chance in the LFFA goal. This spurred the AFC into action and skipper Steve Surridge could have reduced the arrears almost immediately but scooped his shot over the bar from some 3 yards out. A second goal had to come and after 39 minutes Lee Harper following up after another goal-line clearance reduced the deficit. It was all one way traffic but the LFFA stood firm until half time and went into the break 3-2 ahead.

Half time had come with the LFFA on the back foot but could they start the second half, like the first, taking the game to their opponents. The question was answered within a couple of minutes of the restart. The visitors forced a quick corner and with bodies flying everywhere Sonne equalised with a diving header.

The AFC were well on top but could not convert two or three chances, seemingly trying to walk the ball into the net instead of pressurising the LFFA keeper. With 20 minutes to go they eventually took the lead, again from Sonne. This goal would have graced any Premiership game. Following a random attack from the LFFA, James Holdsworth, the AFA keeper, quickly came off his line to thwart an attack, and with the LFFA side defending too far up the park, produced a long kick, which bounced into the path of Sonne, who didn't hesitate and volleyed it first time, from the edge of the box into the top corner, with Dale rooted to the spot.

Within 3 minutes, he was on hand to score his fourth and give the AFC a 5-3 cushion. Unlike his third he was helped by a defensive slip which left him an easy chance. This time it was the AFC's turn to lose concentration and two minutes later they failed to clear giving Phillips his opportunity to score his third. Dale made a very good save to deny the AFC, giving the hosts a chance to level the match. In the last two minutes, it was mayhem in the visitors defence with the LFFA throwing everyone forward. They were extremely unlucky when a header came back off the bar but a follow up shot was well blocked. This was the last chance and the game ended with a 5-4 away victory.

The match was watched by some 20 or so hearty AFA stalwarts and several of the famous Groundhoppers brigade who have always supported the AFA very well.

This season, the AFC have been fortunate to obtain representative match sponsorship, and the match today was sponsored by Howan Consultants Ltd of Pinner. At the post match hospitality, Colin Jones was presented with the AFC man of the match award by Howard Minors MD of Howan Consultants.