Southern Amateur League vs Amateur Football Combination 2002

Southern Amateur League 3 Amateur Football Combination 3 (Brenton Amedee, Dennis Watson, Christopher Sonne) - 20th November 2002 at HSBC, Beckenham.

Back Row (left to right): Matthew Cefai (Clapham Old Xaverians), Christopher Sonne (Old Camdenians), Andrew Voss (UCL Academicals), Morten Josefsen (Economicals), James Holdsworth (Old Hamptonians), Brenton Amedee (UCL Academicals), Stewart Minors (Old Danes), Dennis Watson (Old Ignatians), Lewis Delaney (Old Danes).

Front Row (left to right): Dave Harvey (Old Danes), Lee Harper (Old Danes), Colin Jones (Albanian), Francis Birch (Old Aloysians), Rick Hirst (UCL Academicals), Gary Hawkins (Old Danes), John O'Brien (Old Ignatians), Steve Surridge (Old Aloysians).

SAL Side: John Sullivan (Old Owens), James Ayres (Old Salesians), Duncan Childs (BB Eagles), Nick Humber (Alleyn Old Boys), Simon Wood (Bank of England), Dave Taylor and Viv Jeffrey (Alleyn Old Boys), Jamie Bird (Old Owens), Dane Catchlove (BB Eagles), Anthony Mann  and Graham Presney (Old Owens), Michael Ayres (Old Salesians) and Neil Hurst (Winchmore Hill).

Officials: Referee: Gordon Manning, Assistant Referees: Dave Chapman and John Pearce.

Match Report  (courtesy of Del Saunders of the Southern Amateur League)

Unfortunately the hosts kicked off with only 10 men, due to late arrivals, and immediately were under siege by a rampant AFC side. It was no surprise when the visitors went in front after 8 minutes although the goal was slightly fortunate. A through ball found the SAL defence square and Brenton Amedee bore down on goal. Keeper John Sullivan bravely came out to block the ball but his clearance hit the onrushing forward and the ball spun  into an empty net. The 10 men tried to reorganise themselves to stem the flow relying on breakaways to ease the pressure. Neil Hurst and Michael Ayres both tried speculative long shots with no success. Sullivan made a vital save at the far post to deny the AFC increasing their lead and minutes later in the 24th minute the SAL equalised against the run of play. Following a break a foul was committed on the edge of the box and Graham Presney scored direct from the free kick. Within 3 minutes the visitors were again in front. Dennis Watson headed in from close range following a vicious inswinging right wing corner by Steve Surridge which the keeper could not punch clear. Following the arrival of the missing players and with the hosts now having 11 men, the SAL started playing some very good one touch football and Hurst nearly equalised just on half time.

With a 2-1 deficit the SAL started the second half as they finished the first and continually put the AFC defence under pressure but were denied several times by James Holdsworth in goal, whose handling was superb. After 55 minutes the pressure had to tell and the equaliser was similar to the first goal off the visitors. A shot was blocked by the keeper but fell kindly to Hurst who made no mistake shooting into the unguarded net. Chances were being created by the SAL and Viv Jeffrey was unlucky when shooting just past the post following a cross from Presney. With 20 minutes remaining and the AFC under constant pressure a quick break  found Chris Sonne clear to put the visitors, once again, in the lead 3-2. With skipper Nicky Humber urging his men forward he nearly equalised himself with a shot just wide from 25 yards. Justice was done on 79 minutes when Presney equalised with his second goal following a run down the right hand side and a fine cross shot which went in off the far left hand post. Despite one or two hopeful long range efforts there were no more goals and the match finished 3-3. Being the first representative game for the Amateur Football Combination following the merger of The Old Boys' League and the Southern Olympian League, it was an encouraging first get together.

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