League

Christchurch Park
Spectators: 7805 (Terracing: 5855, Seating: 1795, VIP seats: 155) Jacobs Burton received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 6th minute. Cliff Clark tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Arne Cookesley got in the 8th a clear chance and fired away a hard shot against goal, but Cliff Clark handled the situation perfectly and made a save by the crossbar. Eliot Mcquinn's late challenge caught a Christchurch United's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Eliot Mcquinn helped the player get up and apologised. After 9 played minutes Stapylton got a freekick which was hit by Eliot Mcquinn. 11 minutes into the match, Stapylton's goalkeeper Tobie Wadley had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Ben Blattman. Jacobs Burton struck a weak shot in the 12th minute. Cliff Clark didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Stapylton. 14 minutes into the game, Stapylton's Arne Cookesley nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Cliff Clark made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. 20 minutes into the game, Abbott Yard was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Stapylton's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Christchurch United the free kick. Abbott Yard hit a great freekick 20 minutes into the match. After some careless play in the Christchurch United defense, Jacobs Burton kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Cliff Clark. The Christchurch United fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Cliff Clark should have stopped the shot. The audience was convinced that Arne Cookesley's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Cliff Clark was relentless in the 25th minute of the game. Jacobs Burton sent away a hard shot on goal in the 26th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 29th minute, Jared Norden 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. When the match had gone on for 34 minutes, Neville Aylwin put it in 1-2 from a short distance just to the right of Tobie Wadley. After 40 played minutes Stapylton got a freekick which was hit by Abbott Yard. Cliff Clark took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Jacobs Burton, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After the first half Stapylton were leading 1-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Arne Cookesley to make the kick off. If Jared Norden had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 54th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 56 minutes into the game, Jacobs Burton cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-3. Cliff Clark was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. 64 minutes into the game, Jacobs Burton cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-4. Cliff Clark was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. After a defensive mix-up in Christchurch United's zone, Arne Cookesley stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Cliff Clark came out of the goal and Arne Cookesley tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Tobie Wadley took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Neville Aylwin, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Christchurch United's Cliff Clark played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Arne Cookesley in the 85th minute of play. In the 90th minute Arne Cookesley shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Cliff Clark saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Arne Cookesley got free with Cliff Clark in the 93rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 94th minute, Best Curtis hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The Stapylton players were relieved to hear the final whistle blow to end the match. The away crowd was happy to see their team win after a very tight game.