On a bright and sunny Sunday afternoon Pinner United travelled away to play
Brunswick. Brunswick made use of home advantage on what can best be
described as a 'large' playing surface choosing to kick down hill in the first half.
Immediately on the back foot Pinner struggled to get out of their own half. Jamie
in the Pinner goal had to be alert early doors and it was no surprise when Brunswick
took the lead through a shot from just inside the Pinner penalty box, 1 - 0 Brunswick.
Pinner slowly made headway into the opponents half, and though Nathan and Patrick
had shots on the Brunswick goal they both failed to test the keeper.
Tactical changes midway through the first half saw Sam go in goal, and Jamie move
to the right side of midfield. The changes to try and stem the tide of Brunswick
attacks were not successful as Brunswick extended their lead minutes before the end
of the first half, 2 - 0 Brunswick. Shamil and Adam battled hard to keep the score
2 - 0 and Sam in goal made two further excellent saves before the end of the half.
At half time Myles replaced Patrick and Alex replaced Joe. The second half saw Sam
immediately in the thick of the action by producing the first of many outstanding
saves. However Brunswick extended their lead minutes later, 3 - 0 Brunswick.
Offensively Pinner made headway into the Brunswick half and won several corners
but failed to test the Brunswick keeper. But the Brunswick attack were very
much on top and Sam in the Pinner goal made several saves that warmed both sets
of supporters hands to keep the score 3 - 0.
Further changes saw Patrick replace Jamie and Joe replace Adam. Pinner got a toe
hold in the game halfway through the second half when Alex scored from the edge
of the box. A good move down the left wing saw Patrick and Nathan combine to put
Alex through on goal to bury his shot in the corner, 3 - 1 Brunswick.
Another tactical change saw Patrick and Myles move into attack, Nathan, Joe and
Alex in Midfield and Shamil in defence. The game was now end to end and Pinner
had several excellent attempts to close the gap, but both Patrick and Nathan failed
to find the back of the onion bag.
As the game drew to a close Sam made what can best be described as a bone
crunching save late on to cap an out standing display between the sticks. You knew
it was not your day when the ref failed to give Pinner a cast iron penalty in the last
minute of the match.
The Man of the Match was Sam who put his body on the line on more than one
occasion.
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