Amateur Football Combination vs Bedfordshire & District Football League

National League System Cup - First Round

Amateur Football Combination 4 (Colin Hawkins, Peter Eguae, Leon Smith, Steve Watson).

Bedfordshire & District Football League 0. 

played at Potters Bar F.C. on Wednesday 19th September 2007.

The Amateur Football Combination made its debut in the F.A. National League System Cup with a resounding 4-0 win over Bedfordshire and District Football League at Potters Bar F.C.

The AFC started out the quickest, and the front pairing of Leon Smith and Peter Eguae were a headache for the visitors all evening. Within five minutes they'd already carved out one gilt edged chance, before Colin Hawkins pounced on a defensive mistake, carried the ball 20 yards to lash home the opening goal from the edge of the area. In the next twenty minutes, the AFC carved out chance after chance, and finally ten minutes before half-time doubled their lead as Eguae was set free in the inside left channel, and tucked the ball past the despairing Bedford keeper. Thus far, Bedfordshire had showed little, unless pouncing on over-elaboration by the AFC defence, though slowly got into the game.

At halftime, Bedfordshire stepped up the effort and intensity, and the second half was much more even, also reflecting the Bedfordshire team gelling the more the game went on. Neither side looked particularly likely to score in the opening half hour, until on 80 minutes Bedfordshire created their best chance of the game. Kris Sayers quickly closed down the chance to save well, and the loose ball was quickly cleared upfield to Leon Smith, who outpaced his marker and slotted the ball home to seal the result. Half of the Bedfordshire team were still in their own half, wondering how a possible 2-1 had become 3-0.

With the game effectively over, the AFC completed the scoring with five minutes to go as a Steve Watson corner caught on the wind, and floated in at the back post.

Amateur Football Combination:- Kris Sayers (Old Meadonians), Matt O'Sullivan (Old Ignatians), Steve Watson (HAC), John Butler (Bealonians), Colin Gardner ((HAC), Chris Thomas (Old Aloysians), David Harding (HAC), Colin Hawkins (Old Meadonians), Leon Smith (Old Meadonians), Matt Harrison (Old Hamptonians) Capt, Peter Eguae (Old Meadonians), Subs Lawrie Pointer (Old Meadonians), Ed Glover (Old Meadonians).

Bedfordshire & District Football League:- Michael Dring, Alex Toye, Craig Palmer, Darren Minney, Alan Turner, Dan Kelly, Tim Jarman, Gary Gibson, Zac Rowe, Wayne Goldsmith, Andrew Hayday, Subs Daniel Lloyd, Tom, McGhee, Barry Morris.

Officials:- Lloyd Wood (Referee), Martin Quinn, Mark Spradbury.