League

Appleshaw Park
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Trev Lydiate started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. In the 4th minute, one of Alton: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 Alton. In the 5th minute there was a penalty for Appleshaw FC. Charles Dalton stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Marty Borrowdale. 1-0. After 17 minutes, Richard Llewellyn mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Appleshaw FC and the Alton players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 17th minute, Richard Llewellyn hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 22nd minute, Paul Bowler hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Frank Hallam sent away a hard shot on goal in the 25th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 26th match minute, Appleshaw FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Danny Fawcett to maneuver through the defense. 29 minutes into the game, Alton's Doug Plant nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Dale Hough made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-2. When the match clock showed 34 minutes, the score became 1-3 when Frank Hallam sped through Appleshaw FC's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Dale Hough. In the 37th minute, Appleshaw FC's Trev Lydiate ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Marty Borrowdale. Marty Borrowdale yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 2-3. Appleshaw FC's Dale Hough played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Frank Hallam in the 42nd minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Frank Hallam in the 44th minute of play forced Appleshaw FC's goalkeeper Dale Hough to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 46th minute, Warren Golding 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.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Frank Hallam to make the kick off. Marty Borrowdale stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Warren Golding's shot from short distance in the 53rd minute. In the 54th minute Warren Golding shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Marty Borrowdale saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Warren Golding's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Marty Borrowdale read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 57th minute of play. Kris Fowler hit a great freekick 61 minutes into the match. In the 67th minute, Appleshaw FC's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Frank Hallam fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. When Doug Plant fell near the penalty area in the 69th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Alton's protests and gave Doug Plant a yellow card for diving instead. Warren Golding sent away a hard shot on goal in the 70th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. If Trev Lydiate had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 72nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Doug Plant who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 74thth minute tested the skills of Dale Hough when he managed to save the team from getting behind. When Warren Golding came up free with the goalie in the 76th minute, the Appleshaw FC 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 Warren Golding couldn't finish the play. 82 minutes into the match, Appleshaw FC's goalkeeper Dale Hough had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Doug Plant. After 82 played minutes Appleshaw FC got a freekick which was hit by Danny Fawcett. Doug Plant fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 84th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dale Hough having to interfere. When Alton's Frank Hallam in the 86th minute got a chance for a shot 86th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Appleshaw FC's goalie prevented a goal. Dale Hough showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Frank Hallam in the 90th minute of the match. 90 minutes into the match, Appleshaw FC's goalkeeper Dale Hough had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Doug Plant. It seemed to be an obvious goal in the 92nd minute, but Dale Hough got his fingers on the ball or the save, leaving Appleshaw FC hanging dry this time. If Doug Plant had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 97th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Alton's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.