Next Year Boys!

<p>AFFINITY 1 - COV SAINTS 1

<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">It just wasn&rsquo;t meant to be. A first half goal by Ian wasn&rsquo;t enough to clinch the victory and the title of league champions. The second half that followed saw a missed penalty shortly followed by an own goal. This was the turning point of the game and after that chances came and went but nothing was falling our way. So we have to settle for second place this season but.......

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">....what a season. The fact that we are disappointed in coming 2nd shows just how far we have come. To think that 2 and 3 seasons ago we were fighting to stay in the league. We have had some lows (some more than others) but mainly highs where we have played some outstanding football and have gained the reputation by many as the best team in the league. It was significant to me that the league champions actually apologised for winning and that we didn&rsquo;t. It was testament to us as a team that a lot of teams were rooting for us to win the league. But why?

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Was it our pass and move flowing football that so often tore teams apart? Was it the strike partnership that was consistently unstoppable seeing them both in the top spots of the golden boot? Was it the midfield flair and work rate? What about the defensive stability and ability to turn defence into attack? Well of course these are factors but I put it down to something else........

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">.....the team spirit and togetherness we show rubs off on others. We have a large strong squad and not once has someone moaned for being a sub or having been subbed &ndash; for that I am grateful. I think this shows our ethos as a team. That winning is not the be all and end all for us. I think other teams see this and can&rsquo;t help but be affected by it.

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Thank you all for a great season!

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<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">So bring on next season, when we embark on what will hopefully be a title winning year!

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