League

Belvidere
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Jacobs Mckinley started the match with the kick off. After a rather tough play, Belvidere's Alan Stafford got a free kick in the 5th minute. Howie Maciver struck a weak shot in the 7th minute. Abbott Hanlen didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Merriton. In the 10thth minute of the game Phil Dorrell who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Belvidere's Abbott Hanlen was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Howie Maciver sent away a hard shot on goal in the 11th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Abbott Hanlen showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Howie Maciver in the 16th minute of the match. 16 minutes into the match, Howie Maciver notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of Belvidere's Abbott Hanlen. Abbott Hanlen was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Jacobs Mckinley received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 24th minute. Archie Millar tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Barnett Barugh hit a great freekick 25 minutes into the match. Belvidere's Abbott Hanlen played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Howie Maciver in the 35th minute of play. Phil Dorrell fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 36th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Abbott Hanlen having to interfere. 38 minutes into the game, Barnett Barugh was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Merriton's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Belvidere the free kick. In the 38th minute, Barnett Barugh hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The supporters of Belvidere booed when Merriton was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 43 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ernest Black didn't get a good kick on the ball. Abbott Hanlen showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Phil Dorrell, who was totally free with the ball in the 47th minute. Disappointed in the 0-2 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Phil Dorrell was the one to do the kick off. Phil Dorrell in the 56thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Abbott Hanlen, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Barnett Barugh struck a weak shot in the 58th minute. Abbott Hanlen didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Merriton. In the 61st minute, Phil Dorrell 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. In the 67th minute, Phil Dorrell 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. Bent Kreck sent away a hard shot on goal in the 71st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Kirk Mcenally charged in rather forcefully in the 73rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Kirk Mcenally the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 73rd match minute, Merriton was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Kirk Mcenally to maneuver through the defense. If Phil Dorrell had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 77th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Jarrod Christini had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 78th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jarrod Christini blasted a shot towards the goal in the 83rd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Abbott Hanlen having to make a save. 85 minutes into the match, Belvidere's goalkeeper Abbott Hanlen had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Phil Dorrell. After a defensive mix-up in Belvidere's zone, Phil Dorrell stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Abbott Hanlen came out of the goal and Phil Dorrell tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 95th minute, Phil Dorrell managed to get in a good position for a shot. Merriton's supporters rose to their feet, but Phil Dorrell was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Abbott Hanlen breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. When the match was over Merriton could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Belvidere throughout the match.