• The AFC
    • News
    • History >
      • Season 2002-2003
      • Season 2003-2004
      • Season 2004-2005
      • Season 2005-2006
      • Season 2006-2007
      • Season 2007-2008
      • Season 2008-2009
      • Season 2009-2010
      • Season 2010-2011
      • Season 2011-2012
      • Season 2012-2013
      • Season 2013-2014
      • Season 2014-2015
      • Season 2015-2016
      • Season 2016-2017
      • Season 2017-2018
    • Representative Team
    • League Subscriptions
    • Joining the AFC
    • FA Charter Standard
    • Kick Off Times
    • AFC Dinner
    • AFC Shop
    • Gallery
    • GDPR
  • Divisions
    • Premier Division
    • Senior Divisions ▶ >
      • Senior Division 1
      • Senior Division 2 North
      • Senior Division 2 South
      • Senior Division 3 North
      • Senior Division 3 South
    • North Divisions ▶ >
      • Intermediate Division North
      • Division 1 North
      • Division 2 North
      • Division 3 North
      • Division 4 North
      • Division 5 North
      • Division 6 North
      • Division 7 North
    • South Divisions ▶ >
      • Intermediate Division South
      • Division 1 South
      • Division 2 South
      • Division 3 South
      • Division 4 South
      • Division 5 South
      • Division 6 South
      • Division 7 South
      • Division 8 South
    • Weekly Fixtures
    • League Structure
    • Fixture Bureau
  • Cups
    • LOB Cups ▶ >
      • Home
      • Clubs
      • Rules
      • History
      • ▶ Senior
      • ▶ Challenge
      • ▶ Intermediate
      • ▶ Junior
      • ▶ Minor North
      • ▶ Minor South
      • ▶ Drummond
      • ▶ Olympian
      • ▶ Jack Perry Vets
    • LFF Cups ▶ >
      • ▶ Challenge Cup
      • ▶ Junior Cup
    • Other Cups
  • Clubs
    • Club List
    • Club Map
    • ► A B C D E >
      • Albanian ⚽
      • Altis ⚽
      • Bealonians ⚽
      • Blackheath Wanderers SC
      • Brent
      • Clapham Old Xaverians
      • Clissold Park Rangers
      • Dorkinians ⚽
      • Economicals
      • Enfield Old Grammarians
    • ► F G H I J K >
      • Fitzwilliam Old Boys
      • Fulham Compton Old Boys ⚽
      • Globe Rangers ⚽
      • Glyn Old Boys
      • Hale End Athletic ⚽
      • Honourable Artillery Company
      • IB Albion
      • John Fisher Old Boys
      • King's Old Boys
    • ► L M N >
      • Latymer Old Boys
      • Lea Valley
      • Leyton County Old Boys
      • London Hospital Old Boys
      • London Lawyers
      • London Welsh
      • Mayfield Athletic ⚽
      • Mickleham Old Boxhillians
      • Mill Hill Village
      • National Westminster Bank
      • New-Magdalen AFC
    • ► OLD A B C G H I K >
      • Old Aloysians
      • Old Boilers (now Blackheath Wanderers SC)
      • Old Challoners
      • Old Crosbeians
      • Old Grantonians
      • Old Guildfordians
      • Old Hamptonians
      • Old Ignatian
      • Old Kingsburians
    • ► OLD M P S >
      • Old Magdalenians
      • Old Manorians
      • Old Meadonians ⚽
      • Old Minchendenians
      • Old Parmiterians ⚽
      • Old Pauline
      • Old Pegasonians
      • Old Salvatorians
      • Old Sedcopians
      • Old St Mary's ⚽
      • Old Strand Academicals
      • Old Suttonians ⚽
    • ► OLD T U V W >
      • Old Tenisonians
      • Old Thorntonians ⚽
      • Old Tiffinians ⚽
      • Old Tollingtonians
      • Old Uffingtonians
      • Old Vaughanians ⚽
      • Old Whitgiftian
      • Old Wokingians ⚽
      • Old Woodhouseians ⚽
    • ► P Q R >
      • Parkfield
      • Queen Mary College Old Boys
      • Ravenscroft Old Boys
      • Reigatians ⚽
      • Rob Roy Reds
      • Royal Bank of Scotland
      • Royal Sun Alliance
    • ► S >
      • Shene Old Grammarians
      • Sinjuns Grammarians
      • Sloane (now Altis)
      • Somerville Old Boys
      • Southgate County ⚽
      • Southgate Olympic ⚽
      • Spaniards
    • ► T U W >
      • Tilburg Regents
      • UCL Academicals ⚽
      • University of Hertfordshire ⚽
      • Wandsworth Borough ⚽
      • Witan
      • Wood Green Old Boys ⚽
      • Worcester College Old Boys
    • Directory
    • Matchday Teamsheet
    • Club Officer Roles
    • Club Responsibilities
    • Club Marks
  • Referees
    • Directory
    • Referee's Committee
    • Young Referees (Referees aged 16 and 17)
    • Referee Guidance
    • Guidance for Club Referees
    • Referee Training Courses
    • Referee Awards
    • Referee Registration
    • Results Reporting
  • Handbook
    • Directory
    • Virtual Handbook
    • AFC Committee
    • AFC Rules
    • LOB Cup Rules
    • FA Guidance for Marking Referees
    • Awards >
      • Hospitality Award
      • "Ken Fletcher" Award
      • Long Service Awards
    • Referee Low Mark Report
    • FA Full-Time Login
  • Spirit of Football
    • Spirit of Football Statement
    • AFC signs up to Respect
    • Sample Club Discipline Code
    • Annual Awards
    • Monthly Awards
Amateur Football Combination

The Semi-Final Beckons

4/2/2018

0 Comments

 
A full match report is below - congratulations to David Cross and his superb Rep Team who defeated the Thames Valley Premier League 5-4 yesterday (3rd Feb) in another absolutely thrilling match played in appalling wet conditions but watched by a crowd of 100+. The semi Final draw sees us with a home tie against the winners of North Riding vs Isle of Man (playing Sunday 18th Feb).
The big day had arrived and what a pig of a day, where non-stop rain throughout the morning had made the pitch very wet and heavy in places, with small amounts of surface water covering the pitch at Corinthian Casuals FC. The crowd was a very creditable 100+ and was bolstered by a good contingent from our visitors. Manager David Cross was pensive but was glad he had a full 16 man squad to select from and on paper, perhaps his strongest XI, apart from keeper Warne of Dorking carrying a leg injury so Chris Parlett of Sutts proved an able deputy. 

The crowd was boosted by the attendance of ex League Referee Ray Lewis , Mike Brown CEO AFA , David Dunn the AFA Chairman plus other AFA Officials and an excellent turn out of AFC VP’s & Executive Officers, all looking forward, some more anxious than others, to what was yet again to turn out to be an absolute belter of a match. I have to once again thanks and admire Geoff Lence for making the trip from his home in Chelmsford by replacement buses, train tube and foot to the game and back again – at 88 a marvel indeed.
Chris PARLETT Old Suttonians
Cameron MCGOVERN Old Hamptonians
Aidan CHAPMAN © Old Meadonians
Johnnie MELDRUM Old Hamptonians
Harry WAKEFORD Clapham Old Xaverians
Charlie CAIN Old Meadonians
Chris HERITAGE Old Hamptonians
David STEVENS Old Parmiterians
Ryan BRIGHT Old Meadonians
Stuart HOLT Old Meadonians
Ellis MCLENNON Old Suttonians
Substitutes
Henry WARNE Dorkinians
George PROCTOR Old Suttonians
Craig JONES Old Meadonians
Ian WALSH Clapham Old Xaverians
Mike RICHARDS Old Meadonians
​The game kicked off and the first 10 minutes or so were even with perhaps the TVPL having the slight advantage of possession. This all changed in the 10th minute following the award of a free kick on the edge of the TVPL box after a heavy challenge. Up steps Stuart Holt of Meads to curl a beauty into the bottom corner 1-0.  It was all AFC we were now controlling the midfield, our passing stretching the TVPL side and an almost identical free kick saw another Holt cracker fly inches wide. It was one way traffic and two more good chances went begging – would the AFC rue this, you bet they would – with TVPL making a telling and decisive break which led to Charlie Cain of Meads bringing down an opponent as he raced into the box…….Penalty…….  1-1.

Would this affect the AFC, not likely as the ever impressive Chris Heritage of Hampton and Ryan Bright of Meads began to boss the midfield and three great chances fell to Holt & Heritage but neither were able to apply that finishing touch. The pressure had to tell and so it did when after 30 minutes, a magnificent twenty yard pile-driver from Ellis McLennon of Sutts flew past the TVPL keeper before he could move 2-1. 

This spurred TVPL into almost non-stop pressure and keeper Parlett came to the rescue on a number of occasions pushing one against the post and clear, before with a flying save. thwarting another effort for a corner. It was one-way traffic and Parlett again managed to tip another long range effort round the post. The AFC then give away a needless foul 30 yards out and up steps TVPL’s No 11, Donegan who fires  the free kick over Parlett, the effort crashing off then cross bar, where the lurking McKie gratefully bundled the ball over the line. 2-2.  Only three minutes to the half time whistle and were both teams going to settle for the draw, not the AFC, following yet another free kick, about 30 yards out the towering Holt smashes his header home 3-2.

HALF – TIME.

Manager Cross must have again worked his magic at half time as the team emerged in rampaging form and left back Charlie Cain of Meads fizzes a great shot past the keeper only for a defender to somehow clear it off the goal line, the AFC crowd are very vocal indeed!! The game settles into an end to end battle and the AFC unfortunately keep running offside, tiredness is now affecting both teams and changes are afoot. TVPL make a couple of key changes which seems to install new life into the tired limbs of their team mates. After 67 minutes a sudden break sees Heritage embark on yet another mazy dribble and a superb cross sees McLennon’s goal bound drive somehow tipped over by the TVPL keeper. 

Time is creeping past, sub Walsh of Clapham replaces club mate Wakeford in defence,  can the AFC hold onto to their slender lead – you bet they can and increase it they did,  as on 75 minutes that man Heritage again in a replica dribble, torments the TVPL defence before crossing for McLennon to fire home 4-2. Surely with so many heavy legs the AFC had to hold that two gaol cushion. But this competition has already shown it has goals a plenty and once again a needless foul in the box results in another penalty to TVPL, which is dispatched 4-3. Now the pressure mounts and manager Cross makes his first change bringing on George Proctor of Sutts to replace the tiring Holt as TVPL make their third and final change, they have chanced it by adding a forward at the expense of a defender.

We move into the last 10 minutes and the TVPL pressure is relentless but skipper Aidan Chapman of Meads holds his defensive group together but the AFC supporters are getting frustrated and worried that their team won’t hold out………………..well cometh the hour cometh that man Heritage again, as a rare AFC attack sees the TVPL keeper hack the ball clear well out of his area, but only to Chris Heritage 40 yards out, one step to the left and one to the right, shoot we scream, with the keeper well out of position, he fires a dipping shot which crashes against the cross bar and falls agonisingly on the line………….but super sub Proctor manages to win the race and taps home from 6 inches 5-3. The AFC contingent go absolutely wild, what a game, the excitement is unbelievable. Two minutes plus stoppages to hold out – surely Aidan and his colleagues can cope. In an instant the AFC crowd are silenced as Langford of TVPL went on a heritage like run, evading tackle after tackle before planting a cracker past Parlett. 5-4.

Please not extra time – let’s just hold out, 5 minutes of added time seems like 15 as TVPL attack and attack and the AFC make their last change,  Jones of Meads for Bright to eat up a few seconds. Chances fly inches wide and Parlett again smothers a close range effort. The support from the crowd is deafening, blow that whistle ref, we cry and finally he does, Yet another absolute classic sees the AFC team march into the semi-finals were they have been drawn at home to the winners of North Riding vs Isle of Man, which is being played on Sunday 18th February. A very set of tired players and jubilant supporters then ate and drank in the Casuals bar, who had put on an excellent day for both teams and need to receive huge thanks for allowing us to use their facilities.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Archives

    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017

    Categories

    All
    AFA
    Annual Dinner
    Club Marks
    Football Tournaments
    Intermediate Division South
    League Meetings
    London Lawyers
    Old Wokingians
    Referee
    Representative Team

    RSS Feed

League

​Premier Division
Senior Division 1
​Senior 2 North
Senior 3 North
 
​Senior 2 South
Senior 3 South
Intermediate North​
​​Division 1 North
Division 2 North
Division 3 North
Division 4 North
Division 5 North
Division 6 North
Division 7 North


Intermediate South
​Division 1 South
Division 2 South
Division 3 South
Division 4 South
Division 5 South
Division 6 South
Division 7 South
Division 8 South
​

LOB Cups

Senior 
Challenge 
Intermediate 
Junior 
Minor North 
​Minor South 
Drummond 
​Olympian 
'Jack Perry' Vets 

LFF Cups

Challenge
Junior

Clubs

Club List
Club Marks
Matchday Teamsheet
​Club Officer Roles

Club Responsibilities
Club Marks

Referees

Referees' Committee
Young Referees 
Referee Guidance
Guidance for Club Referees
Referee Training Courses
Referee Awards
Referee Registration
Results Reporting

Handbook

Directory
League Rules
FA Guidance for Marking Referees
Awards
Referee Low Mark Report

Quick Links

Full-Time Login
Referee Registration
​Referee Results Sheet
Spirit of Football
Picture