The referee started the game at 10.31am and, after 14 minutes he ‘spoke‘ to Afc’s Frank Smith and then produced a yellow card following Frank’s continued dissent. Two minutes later Dewayne Dublin played the ball down the middle to Baz David who was then pushed off the ball at the edge of the 18-yard box and the referee awarded a penalty kick to the visitors. Baz stepped up to take the kick and struck a hard shot wide of the diving keeper to put Afc 1-0 ahead. In the 19th minute Tyrone Francis received an injury to his forearm and had to leave the field for treatment. Three minutes later Baz was brought down and Afc were awarded a free-kick on the left. Richard McKie sent the ball across to Baz who blasted a shot from 25 yards over the crossbar. Tyrone returned to the field for a couple of minutes before having to go off again for ice-pack treatment to the swelling on his forearm before returning in the 26th minute. David Blackman was adjudged to have brought down a Res player just inside the penalty area on the 29th minute and Paul Baker converted from the penalty spot to level the scores. Seven minutes later Ian Stallwood, the Res No.16, took the ball down the left and sent a cross into the goal area that struck the crossbar before going out of play for a goal-kick. On 40 minutes Baz crossed the ball from the right to Frank on the left wing and he sent it inside for Tyrone to strike into the Res net with a 22-yard shot, giving Afc a 2-1 lead.

The second half kicked-off at 11.22am and after three minutes Res made their first of three substitutions, sending on No.4 to replace No.15. The referee booked Dewayne Dublin in the 55th minute for kicking the ball away after the whistle had been blown for a Res free-kick. Two minutes later Baz came close to increasing Afc’s lead when he took the ball down the middle, rounded defenders and, as the keeper came forward, pushed the ball a little further before hitting a tight-angled shot into the side netting. Res then made their second substitution, taking off their goal-scorer and sending on No.11. In the 59th minute the referee made an extraordinary decision when Wayne Bedford, the Res No.4, received a return ball from his throw-in, went to the left corner flag and crossed in a ball that came down onto the top of the Afc net, the referee awarding a corner kick. In spite of many protestations from Afc the corner was taken but, justifiably, the ball was put out of play for a goal-kick. In the 63rd minute Richard McKie was brought down and, although awarded a free kick, expressed anger at the foul and became the third Afc player to get his name into the referee’s book. Afc’s speed and fitness began to come to the fore and brought them a number of shooting opportunities at the Res goal with Baz missing two chances and Frank another. In the 76th minute their pressure was rewarded when Jamaine Humphrey crossed the ball to Tyrone and he put the ball into the back of the Res net to give his side a 3-1 lead. Following a number of corner kicks by the visitors, and Res’s replacement of their No.2 by No.3 neither side were able to improve on the scoreline and so Afc emerged as 3-1 winners. (Shouts of encouragement to ‘Croft were rather ineffective as neither side knew who the intended recipients were.)

Afc Hithercroft scorers: Baz David (16 min penalty), Tyrone Francis (40 mins, 76 mins)

Afc Hithercroft team: Brian Lewis (GK), Dan Birch, David Blackman, Leon Browne, Jamaine Warner, Baz David (Capt), Richard McKie, Tyrone Francis, Dewayne Dublin, Frank Smith, Jamaine Humphrey.

Afc Hithercroft M.o.M: Tyrone Francis

Hithercroft Res scorer: Paul Baker (29 min penalty)