04/03/17
A dubious late second half penalty was enough for AFC Yourshirts to take a share of the points at King George V playing field on Saturday afternoon. With the first team game being called off earlier in the day, resulted in a lot of support travelling the short distance up the A14 to cheer on the reserves.
An unbeaten AFC YourShirts were unsurprisingly full of confidence going in to this match and started brightly, immediately putting BAFC on the back foot. On a difficult, heavy pitch BAFC struggled to find any rhythm. A lack of urgency and some general all round sloppiness saw them soon fall two goals behind.
Midway through the first half saw BAFC pull a goal back. Quinton had time and space 25yds from goal and unleashed a fierce, dipping shot that deceived the AFC YourShirts keeper and dipped under the bar. The goal seemed to spark BAFC in to life and they began to control the midfield and looked more comfortable when in possession of the ball. Take nothing away from AFC YourShirts, they looked a threat every time they went forward with their two strikers linking up well. Ten minutes to go before halftime and AFC YourShirts conceded a cheap free kick 10yds outside their own box. Up stepped Quinton, who comfortably put the ball past a static AFC YourShirts keeper, who in all fairness may have been anticipating a cross.
Just on the stroke of halftime the match descended in to chaos. A late challenge from behind on Jones was not taking kindly to and a bit of shoving soon erupted in to a 22-man brawl! Once things had calmed down BAFC were reduced to 10 men and substitute/linesman Baldry also saw red. The halftime whistle could not come quick enough.
The second half saw BAFC regroup and the lads showed lots of team spirit and togetherness. Although a man down BAFC were not going to sit back a protect what they had. They looked dangerous going forward and it was clear that AFC YourShirts were going to have to work very hard if they were to get anything from this match.
As the half wore on AFC Yourshirts began to tire and their two strikes who caused all sorts of trouble in the first half, were now being superbly marshalled by the back four of BAFC. The energetic driving with the ball from Austin was starting to cause the midfield and defence of AFC Yourshirts problems. Midway through the second BAFC were denied a stonewall penalty, when Austin was played through on goal with a delightful ball. He got the wrong side of the defender who went to ground in the box and got all man and no ball. The ref waved play on to the surprise of the BAFC players and supporters.
With less than fifteen minutes left to play, Austin went on another of his driving runs and slipped a perfectly weighted pass through to Eells, who one on one with the keeper expertly slotted his chance away.
With time running out it looked like 10 man BAFC were going to claim all three points. However, in injury time an AFC Yourshirts player went to ground inside a congested penalty area and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty. The resulting spot kick was nicely dispatched.
An exciting game ended 3-3.
Goalscorers – Quinton (2), Eells.
