League

Alton Stadium
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Frank Hallam took the kick off in the first half of the match. Marty Borrowdale showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Raphaël Baptista, who was totally free with the ball in the 9th minute. Marty Borrowdale didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Tom Stamer went, in the 11th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. Marty Borrowdale showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Raphaël Baptista, who was totally free with the ball in the 14th minute. Tom Stamer blasted a shot towards the goal in the 15th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Marty Borrowdale having to make a save. After a defensive mix-up in Alton's zone, Raphaël Baptista stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Marty Borrowdale came out of the goal and Raphaël Baptista tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 20 minutes into the match, Tom Stamer notched a goal, 0-2, to the right of Alton's Marty Borrowdale. Marty Borrowdale was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Marty Borrowdale showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Tom Stamer in the 27th minute of the match. The Croydon fans' excitement grew in the 28th match minute when Croydon's Raphaël Baptista looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 0-3 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. When Doug Plant came up free with the goalie in the 32nd minute, the Alton 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 Doug Plant couldn't finish the play. Marty Borrowdale took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Tom Stamer, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Alton's Marty Borrowdale played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Tom Stamer in the 35th minute of play. After 36 played minutes Croydon got a freekick which was hit by Edilberto Tobia. Croydon's Wesley Johnstone played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Frank Hallam in the 38th minute of play. Raphaël Baptista sent away a hard shot on goal in the 39th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Tom Stamer in the 42nd minute of play forced Alton's goalkeeper Marty Borrowdale to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 43rd match minute, Croydon was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Edilberto Tobia to maneuver through the defense. After a defensive mix-up in Alton's zone, Raphaël Baptista stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Marty Borrowdale came out of the goal and Raphaël Baptista tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play.

The wind increased when Raphaël Baptista made the kick off in the second half. Croydon's Wesley Johnstone played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Doug Plant in the 54th minute of play. The supporters of Croydon booed when Alton was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 56 match minutes in a wonderful position. Brian Pool didn't get a good kick on the ball. With 60 minutes on the clock, Glyn Doona commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. In the 60th 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. After 65 played minutes Alton got a freekick which was hit by Kris Fowler. The audience was convinced that Tom Stamer's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Marty Borrowdale was relentless in the 66th minute of the game. After a rather tough play, Alton's Rowan Scorfield got a free kick in the 66th minute. Alton's defense didn't have a chance, in the 68th minute, when Tom Stamer scored to the left of an out of position Marty Borrowdale, making the score, 0-4. Vic Whitford hit a great freekick 71 minutes into the match. The long shot by Edilberto Tobia in the 72nd minute really tested Marty Borrowdale's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal. After some careless play in the Alton defense, Raphaël Baptista kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Marty Borrowdale. The Alton fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Marty Borrowdale should have stopped the shot. The crowd rose to their feet as Tom Stamer kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Marty Borrowdale. That made the score 0-6 in the 78 minute of play. In the 83rd minute the ball was on its way in behind Alton's goalkeeper Marty Borrowdale, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Raphaël Baptista struck a weak shot in the 96th minute. Marty Borrowdale didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Croydon. Croydon played a much better game than Alton and deserved their victory. The Alton players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.