League

Paxton Stadium
Spectators: 7700 (Terracing: 5779, Seating: 1771, VIP seats: 150) Paxton AFC's Jim Carter 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Marquis Platt in the 5th minute of play forced Paxton AFC's goalkeeper Brendan McNeil to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 6 minutes into the match, Tuckahoe's goal looked a bit too open when Jim Carter came free, but Romeo Houser reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Brendan McNeil made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alexis Gabriel in the 8th minute of play. Brendan McNeil took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Marquis Platt, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 18th minute the ball was on its way in behind Tuckahoe's goalkeeper Romeo Houser, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. D.J. Landis was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 21st minute. Paxton AFC's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. Santo Swain sent away a hard shot on goal in the 24th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Brendan McNeil showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Marquis Platt in the 28th minute of the match. If Marquis Platt had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 35th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After having played for 39 minutes, Jim Carter managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Paxton AFC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Jim Carter was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Marquis Platt to strike the kick off in the second half. After a defensive mix-up in Paxton AFC's zone, Alexis Gabriel stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Brendan McNeil came out of the goal and Alexis Gabriel tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Alexis Gabriel sent away a hard shot on goal in the 58th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When Alexis Gabriel came up free with the goalie in the 62nd minute, the Tuckahoe 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 Alexis Gabriel couldn't finish the play. Brendan McNeil took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Marquis Platt, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 67th minute Jim Carter shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Romeo Houser saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After some careless play in the Tuckahoe defense, Jim Carter kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Romeo Houser. The Tuckahoe fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Romeo Houser should have stopped the shot. If Alexis Gabriel had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 72nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a rather tough play, Tuckahoe's Weldon Vasquez got a free kick in the 78th minute. A hard and well directed shot from Jamel Morris led 79 minutes into the game to a goal after the ball had bounced deceptively just in front of the goal. Tuckahoe's Romeo Houser became a little unsure and couldn't grip the ball before it was over the goalline. Thus it was 3-0. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Marquis Platt in the 94th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Brendan McNeil saved Paxton AFC from getting behind. Tuckahoe's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.