Scorers: Kelly(2), Kenga, Gunyan, Jones, Dan O’Leary
Taking a welcome break from their hectic league schedule, the 1’s enjoyed their first cup outing of the season, to an in-form AFC side Sinjun Grammarians. AP took to the field in their multi coloured changed kit of white/black stripes and orange socks(!), with Dan O’Leary making a deserved start in the middle of the park.
AP pressed and imposed from the start, keeping Sinjuns on the back foot and dominating the early exchanges, which saw Hughes go close with a header. AP broke the deadlock on 20 minutes when the impressive Kenga exchange passes and drilled the ball home from the edge of the box. Not to be outdone, Kelly scored in similar fashion to make it 2 – 0 on the half hour. Lapses in concentration allowed Sinjuns a couple of sniffs at goal, with their winger and skipper looking the most dangerous, but Gunyan, Patterson, Jones and Carlin were largely in control.
So half time came, 2 – 0 up and a ‘don’t take your foot off the pedal ‘ directive from the gaffer, which then saw AP pick up where they had left off. The third came on 55 minutes after a goal mouth melee, which ended in a Jones tame header somehow finding its way into the net!. Fabb came on and slotted in comfortably at right back, again demonstrating our strength in depth. Sinjuns then exploited some slack marking and tracking to hit us on the break, to make it 3 – 1 and give themselves a ray of hope. This was quickly extinguished when Kelly was put through, drew the keeper and cooly slipped the ball home for 4 – 1. But again, to their credit, Sinjuns responded with their second, although our collective concentration was called into question.
In what was now a very open game, Gunyan reacted quickly to expertly divert a Nicholaou cross shot into the opposite corner, to make it 5 – 2. This was soon followed by Dan O’Leary who, following neat build up with Wilson, cut in from the left to beat the keeper at his near post from 18 metres. Much to Simps frustration and understandable disappointment, there was still time for the oppo to score a third, to give themselves a somewhat flattering scoreline.
So a comfortable win, but we need to sort out those lapses in concentration, which would certainly be punished by better standard opposition…just ask Chris Simpson…if you dare! The added bonus came with Southbank beating Ibis, which sees us remain top of Division 3 on goal difference, with a game in hand…bring on Kew!
MOM – Kenga, with his best game of the season.
