TRUK entered the National Affinity Cup for the 2nd time following last seasons superb game and occasion against Friends Fighting Cancer. This time around TRUK were drawn against Selhurst FC a team that has won not only the London Cup but also the Kent Cup and have 4 league titles on the trot and play Intermediate football on Saturday and sit in Division One in the Southern Area Sunday…..however we were told this was there “legends” side who were making there first appearance in this competition.
Arriving at the ground TRUK had a few new faces in the squad with players who were looking forward to returning to the beautiful game having not played for years but were now looking forward to getting there boots dirty as they have found a team for them. We also boasted one 60 year old and several over 40’s and 50’s some true legends! Selhurst “Legends” however boasted players whom were young enough to be a grandchild to some of our players as well as players from their intermediate standard Saturday team and their all conquering Sunday team it was going to be a long evening…..
Selhurst started brightly and had plenty of possession early doors although TRUK to there credit had set up well with a super experienced back 3 of Anwar, Darren and Gary who at 39 was the youngest of the 3 and with a hardworking midfield we restricted Selhurst to long range efforts none of which troubled Blair in the TRUK Goal. It was TRUK in fact who got the ball into the back of the net first as Nicky Currall finished well but the Lino ruined the fun by raising his flag. It was tight but the referees decision is final and the goal was chalked off.
Soon after Selhurst took the lead when TRUK failed to clear the ball properly and there player swung a boot at it from 25 yards…unlike Selhurst’s previous efforts this one flew into the top corner giving Blair no chance. It was soon to be 2 nil when another speculative shot flew over Blair and went in off the post…no keeper in the world would have saved this one…was it a good goal? If the player meant it then it was a worldie…did he mean it…only he knows.
TRUK then had a good chance to get back into the game when Nicky Currall burst through and he smashed his shot past the keeper only to see it come crashing back of the crossbar Selhurst went down the other end and Allison made a rugby tackle on their left winger giving away a FK. This was whipped in and everyone missed it and it nestled into the bottom corner. Nicky Currall then had another chance to grab a goal for TRUK as he burst down the right hand side but this time saw his effort well saved by the keeper.
H-T Selhurst lead 3-0
The 2nd half started with both teams battling well but after 15 minutes the game was done and dusted as Selhurst grabbed a 4th. TRUK made lots of changes given everyone some minutes and Selhurst went on to add another 3 goals. TBH it could have been more but for some excellent goalkeeping from Blair.
The referee brought the game to an end and TRUK’s interest in the competition was ended for another season.
TRUK UNITED: Blair Hamilton, Anwar Uddin, Darren Reynolds, Gary Ginnaw, Allison Cooke, Paddy O’Connor, Mandy Walker, Lucy Copsey, Natalie Washington, Mia Wallace, Nicky Currall. Subs: Poppy Gale, Katja Saskia, Michael Freeman, Lucy Clark, Maysa Prittlata, Ellis Crook, Jess Ward