London Legal League vs Amateur Football Combination 2002

London Legal League 2 Amateur Football Combination 1 - 4th December 2002 at Dulwich Hamlet F.C.

London Legal League: Mark Dawson, Dan Chantler, Andy Voss (all Watson Farley Williams), Gregor McMillan, Luke Mines (both Linklaters), Neil Gillard, Jon Houghton, Rick Hirst (all Richards Butler), Martin Woodrow (Eversheds), Paul Sampson (AFA), Matthew Smith (Slaughter & May), Will Spencer (Herbert Smith), Owen Jones (Denton Wilde Sapte A). 

Amateur Football Combination: James Holdsworth, Matthew Jeiley (Old Hamptonians), Colin Jones (Albanian), Lewis Delaney, Gary Hawkins, Alan O'Driscoll, Lee Harper, John Jeyes, Stewart Minors, Dave Harvey (all Old Danes), Dennis Watson, John O'Brien (both Old Ignatians), Matthew Cefai (Clapham Old Xaverians), Sean O'Donnell, Francis Birch (both Old Aloysians), Barry Wigley (Sinjuns), Chris Sonne (Old Camdenians), Ben Fox (Old Meadonians).

Officials: Pat Ryan, Derrick Coe, Kevin Lowe.

Match Report

On a Wednesday evening the Amateur Football Combination met the London Legal League on a decent pitch at Dulwich Hamlet F.C., a testament to the ground staff following heavy overnight rain.

With a number of players "rested" (to play for the London Legal League) the AFC was much changed from the last game, but competed well in a hard fought match.

The first half was evenly balanced, with the Legal League creating most pressure yet the Amateur Combination creating the best chance, only being denied by a triple reflex save by Mark Dawson. The game looked like going in at the break scoreless, but just before half time the Legal League opened the scoring, with Matt Smith breaking down the right and then pulling the ball back for Jon Houghton to score.

The second half started with sustained pressure by the Amateur Combination, with lots of space on the flanks finally leading to an equaliser. This seemed to galvanise the Legal League, who as the half went on established their dominance and with fifteen minutes to go Paul Sampson, who'd proved a handful all game, netted the winner.