League

The Crookywook
Spectators: 7237 (Terracing: 5637, Seating: 1600, VIP seats: 0) New Ash Green FC's Scott Lamb 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. After some fancy dribbling in the 5th minute, Jimmy Hardcastle managed to get in a good position for a shot. Crooksville FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Jimmy Hardcastle was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Frank Fairbank breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Phil Duggan showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Bart Staple, who was totally free with the ball in the 7th minute. Phil Duggan stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Scott Lamb's shot from short distance in the 9th minute. In the 15th minute Bart Staple shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Phil Duggan saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Bart Staple sent away a hard shot on goal in the 18th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Dane Blewett was astounded when the referee showed him the red card after a seemingly innocent challenge, 22 minutes into the match. In a very dangerous position, a player in New Ash Green FC fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 21st minute. Penalty! The referee gave Crooksville FC a penalty, 24 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Pete Blackwood, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of New Ash Green FC's Frank Fairbank. 1-0. An unexpectedly hard shot by Bart Staple in the 28th minute of play forced Crooksville FC's goalkeeper Phil Duggan to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Bart Staple struck a weak shot in the 31st minute. Phil Duggan didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for New Ash Green FC. Connor Cardwell blasted a shot towards the goal in the 33rd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Frank Fairbank having to make a save. Connor Cardwell sent away a hard shot on goal in the 36th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a rather tough play, New Ash Green FC's Damian Gower got a free kick in the 37th minute. 38 minutes into the match, Crooksville FC's Jimmy Hardcastle sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Frank Fairbank narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After some fancy dribbling in the 40th minute, Jimmy Hardcastle managed to get in a good position for a shot. Crooksville FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Jimmy Hardcastle was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Frank Fairbank breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After a defensive mix-up in New Ash Green FC's zone, Jimmy Hardcastle stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Frank Fairbank came out of the goal and Jimmy Hardcastle tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Jimmy Hardcastle received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 45th minute. Frank Fairbank tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Connor Cardwell struck a weak shot in the 48th minute. Frank Fairbank didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Crooksville FC.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Connor Cardwell was the one to do the kick off. 53 minutes into the match, New Ash Green FC's goal looked a bit too open when Jimmy Hardcastle came free, but Frank Fairbank reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Frank Fairbank showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Jimmy Hardcastle in the 53rd minute of the match. In the 60th minute Connor Cardwell shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Frank Fairbank saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Frank Fairbank showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Connor Cardwell, who was totally free with the ball in the 62nd minute. In the 67th minute, Brad Edwards hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Bart Staple had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 68th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Bart Staple had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 70th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Bart Staple blasted a shot towards the goal in the 74th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Phil Duggan having to make a save. Damian Gower struck a weak shot in the 75th minute. Phil Duggan didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for New Ash Green FC. After 76 minutes, Brad Edwards mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Crooksville FC and the New Ash Green FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 76th match minute, Crooksville FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Brad Edwards to maneuver through the defense. Bart Staple fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 78th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Phil Duggan having to interfere. 85 minutes into the game, Jake Bull was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. New Ash Green FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Crooksville FC the free kick. The supporters of Crooksville FC booed when New Ash Green FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 85 match minutes in a wonderful position. Jake Bull didn't get a good kick on the ball. Jimmy Hardcastle received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 87th minute. Frank Fairbank tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Connor Cardwell recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 89th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After a defensive mix-up in New Ash Green FC's zone, Connor Cardwell stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Frank Fairbank came out of the goal and Connor Cardwell tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Frank Fairbank took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Jake Graves, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. New Ash Green FC's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.