League

Great Bookham Park
Spectators: 6723 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1723, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Grant Dickner took the kick off in the first half of the match. Great Bookham United's Phil McNiven played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lennie Butterfield in the 3rd minute of play. Phil McNiven showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Lennie Butterfield, who was totally free with the ball in the 5th minute. After some careless play in the Great Bookham United defense, Lennie Butterfield kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Phil McNiven. The Great Bookham United fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Phil McNiven should have stopped the shot. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Tom Burbeary during the 9th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. A collision led to The dragons getting a freekick after 10 minutes play. Tom Burbeary hit a great ball. Grant Dickner charged in rather forcefully in the 11th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Grant Dickner the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The supporters of The dragons booed when Great Bookham United was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 11 match minutes in a wonderful position. Grant Dickner didn't get a good kick on the ball. 15 minutes into the match, Great Bookham United's goal looked a bit too open when Lennie Butterfield came free, but Phil McNiven reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 18th minute Lennie Butterfield shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Phil McNiven saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Clive Butcher during the 20th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 20 played minutes The dragons got a freekick which was hit by Clive Butcher. When The dragons's Lennie Butterfield in the 23rd minute got a chance for a shot 23rd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Great Bookham United's goalie prevented a goal. Alfred Gilroy hit a great freekick 23 minutes into the match. Dave Forster might have been able to make a better finish in the 32nd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Phil McNiven. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Dave Forster ran back to his position shaking his head. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Lennie Butterfield in the 33rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Phil McNiven prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 35th minute Lennie Butterfield shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Phil McNiven saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 36 minutes into the game, Lennie Butterfield cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-2. Phil McNiven was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. After 41 played minutes Great Bookham United got a freekick which was hit by Rob Sykes. Lennie Butterfield fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 45th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Phil McNiven having to interfere. Jim Bentham received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 46th minute. Phil McNiven tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Lennie Butterfield to make the kick off. The dragons's Dave Forster got a good chance for a goal in the 53rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Chesney Bull in the 56th minute of play forced The dragons's goalkeeper Noah Tessem to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Lennie Butterfield struck a weak shot in the 59th minute. Phil McNiven didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for The dragons. Phil McNiven showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Dave Forster in the 60th minute of the match. Lennie Butterfield fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 62nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Phil McNiven having to interfere. After 66 minutes, Rob Sykes mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Great Bookham United and the The dragons players grew even worse after the yellow card. In a very dangerous position, a player in Great Bookham United fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 66th minute. Penalty! The referee gave The dragons a penalty, 68 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Felix Pritchard, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Great Bookham United's Phil McNiven. 0-3. In the 75th minute, Jim Bentham hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Grant Dickner fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 78th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Noah Tessem having to interfere. Lennie Butterfield received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 81st minute. Phil McNiven tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Alfred Armstrong received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 86th minute. Phil McNiven tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 88 minutes into the match, Great Bookham United's goal looked a bit too open when Lennie Butterfield came free, but Phil McNiven reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 92 minutes into the game, Chesney Bull was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Great Bookham United's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave The dragons the free kick. Chesney Bull kicked well hit freekick during the 92nd minute of the match. After a defensive mix-up in Great Bookham United's zone, Lennie Butterfield stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Phil McNiven came out of the goal and Lennie Butterfield tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After having played for 95 minutes, Grant Dickner managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Great Bookham United's supporters crossed their fingers, but Grant Dickner was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After a rather tough play, The dragons's Jim Bentham got a free kick in the 96th minute. In the 97th minute Owen Wallbank shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Noah Tessem saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Lennie Butterfield struck a weak shot in the 99th minute. Phil McNiven didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for The dragons. The dragons's fans were overjoyed with their teams well-earned victory and stayed in the stadium long after the final whistle to celebrate the win.