League

Morden Stadium
Spectators: 7500 (Terracing: 5625, Seating: 1725, VIP seats: 150) Morden's Nicholas Mead 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. In the 7thth minute of the game Gus Westerby who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Morden's Jimmy Lydiate was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. After 17 minutes, Micheal Childs mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Morden and the Stalybridge United players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to Morden getting a freekick after 17 minutes play. Micheal Childs hit a great ball. Callum Black fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 19th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jimmy Lydiate having to interfere. When the match had gone on for 25 minutes, Gus Westerby put it in 0-1 from a short distance just to the right of Jimmy Lydiate. 38 minutes into the game, Cody Hawkins was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Morden's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Stalybridge United the free kick. Cody Hawkins hit a great freekick 38 minutes into the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gus Westerby in the 42nd minute of play forced Morden's goalkeeper Jimmy Lydiate to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Jimmy Lydiate showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gus Westerby in the 43rd minute of the match. Gus Westerby received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 44th minute. Jimmy Lydiate tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Gus Westerby to strike the kick off in the second half. Julian Millman hit a great freekick 52 minutes into the match. After 56 minutes of play, Stalybridge United's Gus Westerby made it 1-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Jimmy Lydiate was left in no man's land by his defense there! Callum Black sent away a hard shot on goal in the 59th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Morden were furious when Casey Savage was red carded, 64 minutes into the game, but the referee dismissed their protests. In the 64th minute, one of Morden:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Morden. Gus Westerby walked up to take care of the penalty kick. He was aiming for the top corner, but the ball went just outside the post. An unexpectedly hard shot by Charlie Pointon in the 72nd minute of play forced Stalybridge United's goalkeeper Damion Lonsdale to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a rather tough play, Stalybridge United's Deon Porter got a free kick in the 72nd minute. When Stalybridge United's Gus Westerby in the 75th minute got a chance for a shot 75th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Morden's goalie prevented a goal. Deon Porter's late challenge caught a Morden's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Deon Porter helped the player get up and apologised. Gus Westerby sent away a hard shot on goal in the 81st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a defensive mix-up in Morden's zone, Deon Porter stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Jimmy Lydiate came out of the goal and Deon Porter tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 84th match minute, Morden was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Louie Mead to maneuver through the defense. Stalybridge United's Kasey Cheeseman shoveled away a really nice long shot in the 89th minute of play. The shot was stopped by Jimmy Lydiate but with some difficulty. When Deon Porter came up free with the goalie in the 90th minute, the Stalybridge United 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 Deon Porter couldn't finish the play. In the 95th minute Gus Westerby shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jimmy Lydiate saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When the match was over Stalybridge United could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Morden throughout the match.