Both teams in windy conditions and it was clear from the start that keeping the ball on the ground was going to be key to success. Both teams were battling hard in the middle of the park to gain a foothold in the game. Rutherford continued to fire crosses in from the right wing but the wind made it difficult for the strikers to get on the end of them.
As the first half was drawing to a close AFC struck through Nathan Smyth. Quick thinking from Cole with a short corner gave Smyth time to work some space and send a superb strike into the corner to give AFC a 1-0 lead going into half time.
Immediately after the restart the Wasps drew level. A goal mouth scramble in the AFC box resulted in the ball ricocheting off the post and creeping in. Both teams dug deep to find a winner, throwing whatever they could at each other’s goal but both keepers were in inspired form. The nearest AFC came to a winner was through a Blackburn free kick which sailed narrowly over the bar. The Wasps nearly stole all three points in the dying embers of the game but Rowbottom was on hand for AFC to make a dramatic goal line clearance.
The final score was 1-1.
AFC Halifax juniors can be found on their Pitchero web site and be followed on Facebook!
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