League

Stalybridge Stadium
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Gus Westerby started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. 3 minutes into the match, Stalybridge United's goal looked a bit too open when Reuben Shaw came free, but Damion Lonsdale reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Damion Lonsdale took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Simon Elwick, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 7 minutes into the match, Maldon's goalkeeper Duncan Haigh had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Callum Black. Duncan Haigh showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gus Westerby, who was totally free with the ball in the 9th minute. In the 12th minute Sidney Freeman shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Duncan Haigh saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Gus Westerby had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 17th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Deon Porter fell near the penalty area in the 19th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Stalybridge United's protests and gave Deon Porter a yellow card for diving instead. After a rather tough play, Stalybridge United's Deon Porter got a free kick in the 19th minute. Deon Porter took the ball and in the 28 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Duncan Haigh. Duncan Haigh dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-0. 31 minutes into the game, Gus Westerby was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Stalybridge United's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Maldon the free kick. In the 31st minute, Gus Westerby hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 33 minutes into the match, Maldon's Simon Elwick sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Damion Lonsdale narrowly saved just below the crossbar. With a little luck, Maldon's Duncan Haigh got control of the ball when Callum Black tried to sneak it across the goal line. If Deon Porter had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 39th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 41 minutes into the match, Gus Westerby had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Duncan Haigh. Maldon's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Gus Westerby was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-0. Deon Porter received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 44th minute. Duncan Haigh tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-0 at half-time.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Simon Elwick stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. The audience was convinced that Gus Westerby's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Duncan Haigh was relentless in the 53rd minute of the game. After some fancy dribbling in the 54th minute, Callum Black managed to get in a good position for a shot. Stalybridge United's supporters rose to their feet, but Callum Black was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Duncan Haigh breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Gus Westerby fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 57th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Duncan Haigh having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in Maldon's zone, Deon Porter stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Duncan Haigh 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. 67 minutes into the game, Ivan Pitt was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Maldon's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Stalybridge United the free kick. After 69 minutes of play, Stalybridge United's Gus Westerby made it 3-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Duncan Haigh was left in no man's land by his defense there! If Sidney Freeman had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 73rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Callum Black blasted a shot towards the goal in the 75th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Duncan Haigh having to make a save. When Gus Westerby got free in front of the goal in the 76th minute he wasn't very focused and chipped the ball just over the goal. Duncan Haigh was delighted since he was out of position and the ball would have got in if it had gone under the crossbar. A collision led to Stalybridge United getting a freekick after 79 minutes play. Callum Black hit a great ball. The supporters of Maldon booed when Stalybridge United was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 81 match minutes in a wonderful position. Deon Porter didn't get a good kick on the ball. Callum Black might have been able to make a better finish in the 83rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Duncan Haigh. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Callum Black ran back to his position shaking his head. Damion Lonsdale acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 88th minute, took the ball on the long shot from Vincent Moss. Deon Porter scored 4-0 in the 89th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Duncan Haigh, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. 92 minutes into the match, Stalybridge United's goalkeeper Damion Lonsdale had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Reuben Shaw. It was no surprise that this one had ended in a win for the home team. Stalybridge United had played much better football throughout.