Affinity FC 0 vs 2 Meredith Road

<p>Coundon Hall Park became our third different home venue in the past three games for the visit of Meredith Road.&nbsp;

<p>For the third game running confirming the team was left until late Friday evening with Joe Atkins making the 11 for his first turn out for Affinity.&nbsp;

<p>A typical game against Meredith sums up the 90 minutes.&nbsp; Tough, nasty in places, and not high on the enjoyability scale!&nbsp; Playing with the wind in the first half Affinity survived an early scare with Gary B saving well with his feet to prevent a disastrous start.&nbsp; Rarely pretty the rest of the first half was a battle of attrition with late challenges a plenty but the attitude of the Affinity team in the face of provocation was superb.

<p>Gary B was called into action a number of times as a very mobile and fast strike partnership tested Affinity's defence on a number of occasions.&nbsp; Ian, Sean, Jake and Charlie kept a fairly tight line and snuffed out Meredith advances frustrating them as the half progressed.&nbsp; Gary C and Jamie battled hard to compete in the centre of midfield with James and Luke providing the outlet on the flanks.&nbsp; Will using his strength well with his back to goal held the ball up and brought others in to play.&nbsp; Joe ran the channels without much reward and had Affinity's best chance of the half seeing his snapshot tipped over the bar by Sully in the Meredith goal.&nbsp;

<p>Unfortunately the second half followed a similar pattern to the first with Meredith making the most of an indecisive young referee.&nbsp; Arguably Affinity could and should have had a penalty when Joe was taken down and Joe nearly put Affinity ahead with a fine shot going just wide. Gary B saved well again with is feet to keep the scores level.

<p>Eventually pressure told and Meredith scored two goals to sink Affinity&rsquo;s valiant efforts.&nbsp; The first goal came direct from a corner bending into the far top corner and Affinity will be disappointed with the second not closing down quickly enough with attackers advancing.

<p>Gary B takes his first Man of the Match award with some fine saves keeping Affinity in the game well into the second half.&nbsp; Special mention also to Will for a battling performance holding the ball up well throughout