AFC LEAVE IT VERY, VERY LATE…
LEAFIELD ATHLETIC 0-1 AFC SOLIHULL
(Pre-season game @ Rumbush Lane…)
The Mowdog’s thoughts…
Leafield, which is apparently Solihull’s oldest non-league soccer club, has now amalgamated with AFC Solihull and subsequently Athletic will share their Rumbush Lane ground with the club which has been playing at Tudor Grange Athletics Stadium for some time.
This coming season, Athletic will compete in the West Midlands Regional League 2, whilst AFC will experience the Midland League Division 2, following last season’s promotion.
This celebration of the collaborating clubs was won by replacement Rob Ots in the final seconds of the encounter, having been slipped into the left side of the 18 yard box by midfielder Lakhanpaul. Ots shoved the ball past the advancing ‘keeper Reed to settle the affair.
In fact Reed had done well for Athletic, making a few low saves before conceding so late in the match. Stout defence by Leafield had kept the lively Shimul and Sey at bay, as AFC pushed forward, despite fielding players on trial. Many substitutions by both clubs led to an untidy second period, which of course was expected.
Certainly, Daniels was prominent for Solihull in midfield, alongside Lakhanpaul, whilst fellow midfielder Kelleher caused some first-half threat.
Little offense came from Leafield in truth, although the speedy McArthur was often a danger and Mulholland might have done better with a couple of shots during the opening 45.
It was a decent workout, a chance for players on trial to show their abilities and work at their fitness but above all it was a momentous occasion for the two clubs…
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| HANDS ON HIPS BUT WHO'S COOLER? |
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| THIS IS NOT A MATHS QUESTION... |
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| O'CONNOR (9) HAD ONE HEADER FIELDED BY REED... |
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| MCARTHUR, CENTRE, LOOKS TO THREATEN... |
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| CLOSE MARKING ON A WARM AFTERNOON... |
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| MULHOLLAND LINES UP A FREE-KICK FOR LEAFIELD... |
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| AFC 'KEEPER BRITTLE WAS UNTROUBLED BY THIS SHOT... |
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| BEVAN (12) WORKED THE RIGHT-FLANK FOR ATHLETIC... |
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| HALF-TIME BREAK FOR LEAFIELD... |
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| REED COLLECTS SAFELY... |
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| SHIMUL SHOWED GLIMPSES OF NEAT FOOTWORK... |
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| A LONG WAIT... |
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| ...FOR THE OFFICIALS TO REAPPEAR FOR THE SECOND PERIOD... |
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| THE INTERVAL FOR AFC... |
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| STILL AWAITING THE OFFICIALS... |
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| SOMEONE'S SPOTTED A RARE INSECT... |
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| BIRD (RIGHT): "LIKE MY STEEL TOECAPS?" |
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| DANIELS' EFFORT FLIES WIDE... |
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| COX DEFENDED SHIMUL RATHER WELL... |
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| SHIMUL'S CURLER FROM DOWNTOWN WOULD DRIFT TOO HIGH... |
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| FLYING TO DEFEND A SHIMUL FREE-KICK... |
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| MCARTHUR DOES HIS SHARE OF DEFENDING... |
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| KELLEHER'S SHOT WOULD BE SAVED BY REED'S LEGS... |
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| REED SCRAMBLES TO DENY DANIELS... |
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| LAKHANPAUL WITH THE ASSIST... |
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| ...TO OTS (16)... |
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| ...WHO DRAWS REED... |
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| ...& WINS THE GAME IN THE FINAL SECONDS... |
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