02.02.08
Man of the match: Drew Warnke
Coming off the back of an emphatic win away to fellow promotion rivals, Taplow United, AFC Corinthians approached this home match with confidence. Shinfield are a very good side who battle hard and play slick football, but in the first meeting this season, Corinthians showed that they can more than match them in both departments. So, with a strong side – only missing Finbar Mulholland, Chris Long, Ben Charters, Jon Simmons and Rich Cotterill – a repeat performance was well on the cards.
The match started brightly with both sides competing well. Shinfield attacked at pace and were asking questions of the home side’s defence. But the back four of Gary Mancini, Jon Quinton, Ian Beanymon, and Dan Groves were holding steadfast. Corinthians, on the other hand, were showing signs of being able to catch the Shinfield on the break with speedy winger, Dimba Kier, causing trouble down the right flank and the impressive Daniel Huggins leading the line well.
It was the in-form striker who finally broke the deadlock about midway through the first half. It began from a fine ball delivered by centre-back, Beanymon, out to Drew Warnke. The winger took the ball in his stride and threaded an inch perfect pass in between two defenders for Huggins to run on to. He controlled well and just when the keeper and defender thought he would take the ball on further, he unleashed an unstoppable left-foot drive low and hard into the bottom right hand corner of the net from 20 yards.
Shinfield, to their credit, got themselves back into the game within 5 minutes of conceding. A fine move down the right wing caught Corinthians flat footed. It allowed the visitors to carve their way through the back line for the target man to clip the ball passed the on-rushing, Jamie Scott in goal.
The half ended one a piece.
The second half mirrored the first from the onset. Shinfield had the majority of possession with the ball being used and kept well by their front men and were ably backed up with some hard work and graft in midfield. However, Corinthians, typified by midfield tandem Joe and Joff Charters, as well as Drew Warnke and Andy Taplin, were working hard to win the ball back and hit on the break.
However, it was the visitors who took the lead with their striker benefiting from a great through-ball and an incisive cross to finish well. This meant Corinthians needed to attack more and push the game. After several close efforts, they finally notched the equaliser. The visitors failed to clear their lines the ball fell to Drew Warnke, who finally took advantage of one of their Keeper’s continual voyages out his area to delightfully lob him from 30 yards.
But just as this should have been something to build on to get the three points on offer Shinfield regained the lead from a corner. The in-swinger caused confusion in the box and it was stabbed home to make it 3-2. A fourth soon followed when a long ball from the back found the gap and their striker completed the move.
This could have been the end of proceedings, however there was more drama to come when Corinthians had skipper Dan Groves harshly sent off following a tussle off the ball. Then, in the dying minutes substitute Jon Smith scored Corinthians’ third fine goal of the day when he controlled well and slotted home a drive high into the top corner from just inside the area.
The home side had a couple more opportunities to grab a late equaliser, but it was not to be. The game finished with all three points heading to Shinfield. In an exciting game with plenty of chances Corinthians can be pleased with some of their play but will need to tighten up in certain areas if they want to gain promotion this season. Next week sees the away match against West Reading and a chance to put this defeat behind them.