League

Leek
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Malcolm Neville got the match started through his kick off. In the 8th minute the ball was on its way in behind Whitton AFC's goalkeeper Stew Jenkinson, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 9th minute Jon Venables shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Stew Jenkinson saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ray Denham fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 11th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Stew Jenkinson having to interfere. After some careless play in the Leek FC defense, Malcolm Neville kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Keith Downham. The Leek FC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Keith Downham should have stopped the shot. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Sean Ferdinand during the 17th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 17th match minute, Leek FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Sean Ferdinand to maneuver through the defense. After some fancy dribbling in the 30th minute, Ray Denham managed to get in a good position for a shot. Leek FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Ray Denham was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Stew Jenkinson breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 31st minute, Jon Venables 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. Bryan Housham hit a great freekick 32 minutes into the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 33rd minute, Jon Venables managed to get in a good position for a shot. Leek FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Jon Venables was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Stew Jenkinson breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Jon Venables who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 35thth minute tested the skills of Stew Jenkinson when he managed to save the team from getting behind. When Leek FC's Ray Denham, in the 36th minute, received a pass right in front of the net, it looked like a certain goal, but his shot went outside. A wasted opportunity for Leek FC. Jon Venables fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 45th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Stew Jenkinson having to interfere. 47 minutes into the match, Ray Denham had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Stew Jenkinson. Whitton AFC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Ray Denham was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-1. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Jon Venables stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Stew Jenkinson showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ray Denham in the 54th minute of the match. Leek FC's Keith Downham played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Malcolm Neville in the 58th minute of play. 59 minutes into the match, Whitton AFC's Malcolm Neville sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Keith Downham narrowly saved just below the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Malcolm Neville in the 61st minute of play forced Leek FC's goalkeeper Keith Downham to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 64 minutes into the game, Malcolm Neville recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Keith Downham. Malcolm Neville showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-2. Phil Findley hit a great freekick 67 minutes into the match. Whitton AFC's Stew Jenkinson played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jon Venables in the 68th minute of play. After some careless play in the Whitton AFC defense, Shane Gallacher kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Stew Jenkinson. The Whitton AFC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Stew Jenkinson should have stopped the shot. 78 minutes into the match, Whitton AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Jon Venables came free, but Stew Jenkinson reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Ray Denham had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 79th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 82nd minute Ray Denham shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Stew Jenkinson saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 85th match minute, Leek FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Vince Sutcliffe to maneuver through the defense. A hard shot by Baron Frazer from long distance, 86 minutes into the match, got Keith Downham's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. 88 minutes into the game, Bryan Housham was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Whitton AFC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Leek FC the free kick. Derek Bayne took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 89th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Stew Jenkinson. Whitton AFC's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Whitton AFC's Stew Jenkinson played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jon Venables in the 90th minute of play.