Winchmore Hill 4s vs Old Suttonians 4s
AFA Minor Cup
28 September
Following the cup victory of last season, Winchmore were keen to taste similar success this season. The first round of the AFA cup saw opponents from South London make a 2.5 hour journey to the Paulin... and the team were determined to condemn them to a tear-filled return trip home.
We lined up with Reece in goal, protected by a back four of Nav, Carl, Cozzer and Laurens, with a central midfield consisting of our heartbeat Jamo, pivotal new signings Ollie and Mark, flanked by Richie and Sami, all feeding Combe up top. Old Suttonians turned up with a bare 11 and had seemingly neglected to do any preseason activities, if some of the bellies on show were anything to go by. On our favoured bottom pitch carpet, Winchmore 4s were salivating at the prospect of a high pressing assault on our opponents.
And so the game began, with Winchmore’s energy and technical ability setting us clearly apart. After some probing, with that final ball just deceiving us, the breakthrough came. Reece kicked the ball long and Combe rose, flicking the ball on for Richie who, one on one with the keeper, finished expertly. One soon became two. Sami, who like Richie was terrorising the Suttonians fullbacks, won a free kick out wide before promptly swinging in the sweetest of deliveries for Richie to convert with his head, bagging his second of the game. 2-0 up at half time and rarely troubled, this was about keeping our heads and we’d be through.
Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be Winchmore if we didn’t make things interesting. Soon after the restart, Suttonians registered a tame effort that was destined for Reece’s gloves, only for the usually commanding Cozzer, always wanting to be the hero, to lunge at the ball, deflecting it into the top corner for 2-1.
Suddenly we were nervous. Simple passes we’re going awry. But fortunately, our energy and press never let up. After constant hassling and harrying from Combe and Sami, the Suttonian defence was pressured into an under hit back pass which Mark Haslam gleefully pounced on, slotting home to restore our 2 goal lead. Save for one glorious chance that Suttonians missed when the Winchmore defence had fallen asleep at a free kick, we remained untroubled. After a couple of difficult chances missed, including one culminating from a glorious dinked ball from Laurens, Combe finally registered on the scoresheet with a delightful top corner strike from the edge of the box.
A 4-1 victory which was thoroughly deserved. An excellent day and through to the next round.