Oliver Harrison’s standout performance for FTI was pivotal in securing a 3-0 victory for the City’s PRs in their annual face-off against journalists, a result that many observers felt flattered the spinners.
The game was evenly matched until the final 20 minutes when two goals from Kwaku Aning and a third from Tom Bermingham clinched the win for the flacks. This hard-fought match, held at AFC Wimbledon’s Plough Lane, may not have always reflected the prestigious setting.
The ‘Hacks vs Flacks’ charity match, now in its twentieth year, raised over £9,000 for the AFC Wimbledon Foundation, with a significant contribution from Amazon.
On the historic ground once used for greyhound racing, the hacks started strong. FT’s Sam Adani controlled the midfield, and colleague Louis Ashworth had the first shot on goal, only to be denied by Harrison. City A.M.’s Andy Silvester, playing on his home turf, was also thwarted by a sharp save from the keeper.
Despite solid defense from Standard’s Nick Clark and offensive pressure from FT’s Ade Fadare-Chard, the hacks were frustrated to end the first half goalless, with flacks posing little threat to keeper Christian Sadler.
In the second half, the hacks missed several opportunities before the flacks surged in the seventieth minute. Kwaku Aning, causing havoc in the hacks’ defense, earned a free kick and skillfully placed it in the bottom left corner.
A defensive mishap soon after allowed Aning to outmaneuver Sadler, securing another goal. Although Sky News’ Mark Kleinman’s effort nearly gave the hacks a consolation goal, Tom Bermingham’s late strike during a chaotic goalmouth scramble sealed the victory for the flacks.
The AFC Wimbledon Foundation, established in 2013, was created to give back to the community that supported the club’s creation and success. The Foundation aims to meet the community’s evolving needs through targeted activities and initiatives
