10.11.07
Man of the match: Jon Simmons and Gary Mancini
AFC Corinthians returned to the league this week after two away trips in different cups. Facing the newcomers to the Premier Division, Unity, with the usual depleted side, was not going to be easy. Especially as they were losing the experience of midfielders Joff and Joe Charters, defender, Ben Charters and the goal-scoring ability of Daniel Huggins. Furthermore, the gaffer was also absent, so it meant that the lads had to come together and fight as a team to try and gain all three points available at James Lane.
The game began as a cagey affair. Both sides were sounding each other out early on and it soon became obvious how the match was going to play out; the away side were defending deep, choosing to play the ball out of defence at every opportunity.
For all their neat approach play and good ball retention, Unity barely troubled the defence for most of the first half. The line of Jon Simmons, Jon Quinton, Ian Beanymon and Gary Mancini, who was playing his first premier league game this season after displaying fine form in the reserves, was lapping up Unity’s final ball time and time again. From the few occasions they did get round the back of the defence, they found Jamie Scott in commanding form.
As the first half progressed, Corinthians were being to stamp their authority on the game. Buoyed by the strength the defence was showing, the midfield partnership of Finbar Mulholland and Richard Cotterill were pressurising the Unity play-makers and beginning to find space with the ball themselves. Soon this approach began to pay dividends. First, from an incisive chipped through-ball from Chris Long, Cotterill sprung the offside trap and lobbed the keeper, only to see it hit the crossbar and bounce over.
Then, from a fine move involving Joe Jerome, also making his first team debut this season, the ball reached Drew Warnke whose shot was saved well by the keeper. The pleasing thing for club captain and stand-in gaffer, Don Graves, was that Corinthians were not being over-awed by the physical play of their visitors and, moreover, were defending from the front. Both strikers were chasing and putting pressure on their players. Then home side went into the half-time break with the scores level, but were aware that this game was there for the taking.
The second half started with a let-off for Corinthians. Their small striker managed to break free and should have scored. But it was the home side who took the lead. After a stupid foul, one of many committed by the visitors, Cotterill sent in a difficult ball to defend and the resulting mix-up between defender and keeper presented the near open goal for Jon Smith to fire in. This is what Corinthians deserved. They were pressing and asking questions of Unity.
However, almost predictably, the away side drew level. A rare piece of collective sloppy defending saw the ball squirm out to their striker who fizzed a low shot just wide of Scott to make it 1-1.
The rest of the game was played out in an untidy midfield battle. As the game entered the final ten minutes, Unity was becoming increasingly frustrated by the solid defence in front of them. They expected to not only beat Corinthians, but beat them well. This led to a passage of play which will long live in the memory of those playing and also the ever increasing home-side’s WAG element watching from the side! Unity proceeded to put in some horrific tackles, mostly on Quinton, as the match descended into a pitch battle complete with some amusing trash-talking. After the referee dished out a few yellow cards, he called time on this match. Unity was not done though and 3 of them decided to punch it out amongst themselves afterwards and use the sideline as their ‘Octagon’.
Focussing on the football: 1-1 was a fine result and a very good performance from the home side. Up next is Hurst and a chance to put right the unjust 3-2 defeat earlier this season.