Challenge

aLetchworth
Spectators: 50 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Toni Mauzer took the kick off in the first half of the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 5th minute, Dominic Allwright managed to get in a good position for a shot. Fawards's supporters rose to their feet, but Dominic Allwright was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ilija Skugor breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After some fancy dribbling in the 6th minute, Ivan Fuller managed to get in a good position for a shot. Fawards's supporters rose to their feet, but Ivan Fuller was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ilija Skugor breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Teo Gudelj hit a great freekick 7 minutes into the match. Dinko Stankovic scored 0-1 in the 12th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Tom Hughes, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Tom Hughes took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Damir Pongrac, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 18 minutes into the game, Damir Pongrac cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-2. Tom Hughes was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. With 25 minutes on the clock, Silvije Santek commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. After 32 minutes of play, Croatia's Damir Pongrac made it 1-3 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Tom Hughes was left in no man's land by his defense there! 35 minutes into the game, Benjamin Domazet was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Croatia's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Fawards the free kick. In the 35th minute, Benjamin Domazet hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 1-3 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Dominic Allwright was the one to do the kick off. Fawards's Tom Hughes played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Martin Bosak in the 56th minute of play. Ilija Skugor made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Dominic Allwright in the 58th minute of play. Ilija Skugor took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Zack Chegwyn, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Damir Pongrac during the 64th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 65 minutes, Eduard Kostelac mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Croatia and the Fawards players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 65 played minutes Croatia got a freekick which was hit by Eduard Kostelac. An unexpectedly hard shot by Jermaine Ellerby in the 77th minute of play forced Croatia's goalkeeper Ilija Skugor to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 80 minutes into the match, Croatia's goal looked a bit too open when Dominic Allwright came free, but Ilija Skugor reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Neven Culina's late challenge caught a Fawards's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Neven Culina helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, Croatia's Neven Culina got a free kick in the 81st minute. 87 minutes into the game, Fawards's Toby Flynn nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Ilija Skugor made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-3. In the 93rd minute, Teo Gudelj hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Although Fawards had been in control for most of the match, Croatia still came away with the win.