01.12.07
Man of the match: Jon Smith
AFC Corinthians have played a lot of games already this season and faced this difficult match with Shinfield wanting to go into the winter break with all three points under their belt. It was fitting, therefore, that they put in arguably their best performance of the season and achieved this goal.
Starting the match without the Charters brothers, Coach Kitten and also captain, Dan Groves, the Whites needed to pull together to get this result. They began well, chasing down their physical and quick opponents. However, they fell behind after the 10 minute mark when a sharp move enabled Shinfield to penetrate deep into the Corinthian penalty area. A neat touch by their number 10 forced a mistimed tackle from Ian Beanymon who upended the striker for a penalty. The spot-kick was duly dispatched to make it 1-0 to the home side.
Though this was not the start Corinthians wanted they stayed focussed and actually went close with some good work from Finbar Mulberry, Drew Warnke and Chris Long. This growing pressure finally paid off when Richard Hand, working extremely well in midfield, broke up a Shinfield attack and laid the ball off to Long. The resulting early throughball split the defence and allowed Jon Smith to bear down on goal. The in-form striker picked his spot and clinically finished to make it 1-1.
The score line did not stay that way for long. Corinthians turned the tables and actually took the lead through the same combination of players. Long intercepted a pass from a Shinfield defender on the right side of the pitch. Again, the early delivery in behind the defender into the box caught the home side off guard and Smith delightfully helped the ball over the on-rushing ‘keeper. This was no more than the visitors deserved who, after sustaining a few more Shinfield attacks, went into the break holding the slim lead.
The visitors knew that their opponents would come out fighting in the second half and this is exactly what happened. However, the defence of ‘keeper Jamie Scott, centre backs Beanymon and Jon Quinton and full-backs, Richard Cotterill and Gary Mancini, were all holding firm. The Whites were contesting every challenge and making it difficult for Shinfield to exert any sustained level of pressure. However, Corinthians were slowly being forced into playing a more counter-attacking style of football as a combination of injuries forced both teams to change personnel.
Shinfield finally drew level after a deep corner was headed by their sub into the roof of the net. While Corinthians have sometimes been guilty of imploding after such setbacks, this actually spurred them on. There was a determination to grab all 3 points on offer and also a realisation that this could be achieved if they took the game back to Shinfield.
So it came as no surprise that Corinthians managed to create two golden opportunities to try and regain the lead. First, Smith’s jinking run was pushed round the post. Then, after a fine run and shot from Mulberry, Long failed to control the rebound well and blasted his effort over the bar.
However, this was only delaying the inevitable. Not long afterwards, a corner was not dealt with and Smith’s effort was only cleared off the line into Daniel Huggins’ path and he smashed the ball high into the net for his 2nd in two games.
Shinfield were now forced to attack if they wanted anything from this match. While they did force a couple of saves from Scott, it only served to create more space for Corinthians to counter-attack. After a couple of near-misses, Smith finally completed his well-deserved hat-trick with a fine finish after good work from Ethan Jerome.
The game finished with all the points going to Corinthians. One of the most pleasing things for stand-in gaffer, Jamie Scott, was that the spirit and determination was evident from the opening kick-off. The Whites fully deserved this win and can look forward to a good Christmas break and hope to continue this vein of form into the New Year.