Match Report, March 31^st 2004: Arthurian League 3 - 0 Amateur Football Combination

After the frustration of conceding a last minute equaliser to the Southern Amateur League and yet another postponed fixture, this time London University being unable to raise a team, the Arthurian League Rep side took to the field at Hanwell Town for only their third match of the season.

Unusually for an evening kick-off, there were some severe selection problems, with a large number of players unable to attend for one reason or another. It did mean however that some old faces returned to the side, with Jason Golder (Charterhouse) and Dave Gurney (Lancing) both accepting the challenge to play on the morning of the game. Eton`s Matt Lowe, forced to play most of the previous game at right-back, returned to his favoured centre-forward position where he partnered Harry Hoffen. Tom James (Malvern) returned to the left wing, ahead of Lancing left-back Ben Evans, who was playing his last game for a while, a two-year sojourn in Australia looming large on the horizon. Rupert Hoffen drew the short-straw and filled in at right-back.

The Hanwell Town pitch was in good condition and the Arthurian League began well, with a neat attack down the left putting the AFC under immediate pressure.

Having wethered the initial five minutes however, the AFC began to take control. The Arthurian League side coped manfully with everything that was thrown at them: Gurney and Golder were outstanding at centre-half, Ben Evans was his usual reliable self at left-back, and Rupert Hoffen was proving a revelation at right-back, making several crunching tackles and showing excellent positional sense. The defence did so well in fact, that the AFC resorted to firing in long shots, none of which troubled James Butcher in the Arthurian goal.

Gradually, the home side began to find their way into the match. Harry Hoffen and Matt Lowe looked an ideal pairing up front, Matt was winning everything in the air, Harry was latching onto the flick-ons and putting the AFC defence under severe pressure. Tom James was also prominent down the left-hand side, and the young Malvernian was presented with the bast chance of the first half after a superb three-man move which culminated in him blasting over from 15 yards when totally unmarked. The AFC did not hold on for long though.

More good play down the left saw Harry Hoffen fouled - Lederman`s free-kick was aimed at Evans and Baker at the far post, but with neither player making contact, the ball sailed in to the far corner with the goalkeeper stranded.

The goal immediately boosted the team and they finished the half the stronger of the two sides. Several times useful openings were created, too often they were wasted because of poor decision making in the final third.

The half-time verdict was unanimous: it had been an excellent 45 minutes, but only with sustained work-rate would a victory be claimed.

As it turned out, the Arthurian League side grew stronger as the game wore on. Piers Bourke came on for Tom James at half-time and after a poor first five minutes of the half, the AFC soon found themselves under severe pressure.

Chances came and went: Harry Hoffen blasted over when a cross was the better option, Quentin Baker went on a fine run which ended with another shot sailing over the bar and David Lederman came closest of all when he toe-poked the ball past the keeper from a narrow angle, only to see it cleared off the line by a covering defender.

Despite a nervy ten minute period in the middle of the half, when for the only time in the game it looked as though the Arthurian League may concede, the team re-grouped and found the goals they needed to put the result beyond doubt.

A splendid ball from Tom James, back on the field at left-back thanks to an injury to David Gurney, set Harry Hoffen free and the Harrow man this time made no mistake, coolly lobbing the advancing keeper from the edge of the box.

By this stage, the visitors were being stretched all over the pitch. Lederman and Bourke enjoyed more freedom on the wings and Matt Lowe at times waged a one-man crusade against the entire AFC back four.

Matt got the goal his outstading display deserved with a little over ten minutes remaining: collecting the ball on the right of the penalty area, he cut inside and drilled a low left-footed shot under the AFC keeper.

It was a fitting end to the game and the win was thoroughly deserved by the team. The defence played superbly, including the goalkeeper, the midfield worked hard initially and then began to play some creative, attacking football and the front two looked threatening all night, Matt Lowe turning in an oustanding performance.

All in all, an excellent night for the Arthurian League side.

Arthurian League (4-4-2): James Butcher; Rupert Hoffen, Jason Golder, David Gurney, Ben Evans; David Lederman, Quentin Baker, Paul Molloy, Tom James; Harry Hoffen, Matt Lowe

Sub: Piers Bourke