08.09.07
Man of the match: Eddie John
In their second ever game AFC Corinthians Reserves showed huge qualities but unfortunately in the end were undone by the greater experience and numbers of the opposition. In a bad week for absenteeism several players were called up to the first team game and more still were unavailable, leaving a large amount of reorganisation required. Club manager Matthew Charters was forced to don the gloves, whilst Simon Ibbitt was asked to play a few hours after returning from America.
The game started with Corinthians looking dangerous in attack and solid at the back. The hastily arranged defence of Ben Ardron, Gary Mancini, Tom Bell and Ibbitt were marshalling the home side’s attacking threat comfortably, and were being well protected by Eddie John playing just in front of them. Going forward the line was being led by the tireless running of Paul Brady, while Joe Jerrome and Richard Spurr were getting forward at every opportunity to support.
The first 20 minutes of the match were an even affair, with no side really dominating, and both defences looking strong. Brady was the first player on either side to threaten when he latched onto a Jerrome pass, rounded his man and flighted a delicate chip over the keeper which came back off of the bar and was cleared. The near miss prompted Corinthians on and Jerrome was unlucky when a fierce drive from outside the box was bravely blocked by a home defender. Disaster struck however on 25 minutes when YMCA took the lead. Possibly over-confident the Whites attempted to play their way out of defence and were caught when an interception and quick cross found the home striker at the far post and he dispatched his shot into the far corner of the net. Keeper Charters was disappointed at not being quick enough to claim the cross, and was angry with himself again 5 minutes later when a far post corner was headed in to make it 2-0. Shell-shocked, Corinthians rallied and pushed on again, and Brady can feel very unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty in the last minute of the half when although managing to get a shot away he was ‘clattered’ by the opposing defender and needed lengthy treatment, but Corinthians were unable to make the break through and went into the break two goals down.
At half time the young Corinthians side was confident that they could get back into the match, and went out with renewed vigour. In the opening 10 minutes of the half Brady again, Spurr and Bell all went close, and were disappointed not to have scored, but again just as Corinthians were starting to look the more likely side to score YMCA showed their resilience by striking to make the score 3-0. To their credit the Corinthians heads stayed up, however with a strong lead the home side’s experience started to tell, as they defended deep and maintained possession for long spells. YMCA’s advantage was made all the more by the fact that they were able to rejuvenate their side on this hot and sapping afternoon with substitutions that added much need fresh legs.
The scoring was completed 10 minutes from time when a breakaway goal gave YMCA a convincing but flattering 4-0 scoreline. After the game club Manager Matthew Charters was delighted with the performance of his side, if not the result. “With a large number of young players on display, as well as some of the more ‘experienced’ squad members, this first few months will be a steep learning curve, particularly as the fixture list has not been kind with our first four games are against three of the four favourites to win the league, however if they play the way they did today they will certainly win more games than they lose. Both sides are at the point where they need to learn lessons about concentration and decision making, but these are lessons that they will learn and the future of the club is looking good”.