League

Duddon Road
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Bulphan City's Simon Martin started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Joseph Beckford made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Simon Martin in the 4th minute of play. Stefan Atherton might have been able to make a better finish in the 8th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Joseph Beckford. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Stefan Atherton ran back to his position shaking his head. Kieran Barker recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 12th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Matty Fordham's late challenge caught a Askam United's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Matty Fordham helped the player get up and apologised. In the 13th match minute, Bulphan City was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Matty Fordham to maneuver through the defense. Stefan Atherton recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 16th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. If Simon Martin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 18th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Stefan Atherton received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 21st minute. Joseph Beckford tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 21 played minutes Askam United got a freekick which was hit by Mark Scrivener. After 23 minutes, Bill Perryman mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Askam United and the Bulphan City players grew even worse after the yellow card. 22 minutes into the game, one of Askam United:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. After some fancy dribbling in the 29th minute, Simon Martin managed to get in a good position for a shot. Bulphan City's supporters rose to their feet, but Simon Martin was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Joseph Beckford breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. An unexpectedly hard shot by Simon Martin in the 31st minute of play forced Askam United's goalkeeper Joseph Beckford to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 35 minutes into the game, Eddy Cooper lined in a short shot 1-1 behind a frustrated Philip Ruddock. Simon Martin struck a weak shot in the 39th minute. Joseph Beckford didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Bulphan City. Stefan Atherton blasted a shot towards the goal in the 43rd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Joseph Beckford having to make a save. Joseph Beckford showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Simon Martin in the 47th minute of the match. Stefan Atherton received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 48th minute. Joseph Beckford tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 1-1 after a close first half.

The wind increased when Charlie Platt made the kick off in the second half. Askam United's Joseph Beckford proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 55th minute of the match, managed to save Askam United from getting a goal against them. After having played for 63 minutes, Charlie Platt managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Askam United's supporters crossed their fingers, but Charlie Platt was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 67 minutes into the game, Kieran Barker was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Askam United's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Bulphan City the free kick. In the 67th minute, Kieran Barker hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. When Stefan Atherton came up free with the goalie in the 69th minute, the Bulphan City fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Stefan Atherton couldn't finish the play. After some fancy dribbling in the 71st minute, Mark Scrivener managed to get in a good position for a shot. Askam United's supporters rose to their feet, but Mark Scrivener was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Philip Ruddock breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After 74 minutes, Eddy Cooper mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Askam United and the Bulphan City players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to Askam United getting a freekick after 74 minutes play. Eddy Cooper hit a great ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Simon Martin in the 80th minute of play forced Askam United's goalkeeper Joseph Beckford to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Bulphan City's Stefan Atherton got a good chance for a goal in the 84th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 86th minute, Kieran Barker got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. When Mark Scrivener came up free with the goalie in the 88th minute, the Askam United fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Mark Scrivener couldn't finish the play. In the 92nd minute, Charlie Platt ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Philip Ruddock was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-1. In the 99thth minute of the game Simon Martin who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Askam United's Joseph Beckford was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Askam United had won after a very even match.