League

Skelmersdale
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. Ritchie Bator started the match with the kick off. Freddie Meehan made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Denzil Mulford in the 4th minute of play. A collision led to Skelmersdale getting a freekick after 5 minutes play. Joe Marriott hit a great ball. In the 8th minute, Mickey Ashton hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Skelmersdale's Joe Marriott got a good chance for a goal in the 9th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Jake Gibbs charged in rather forcefully in the 14th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Jake Gibbs the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. 15 minutes into the match, Skelmersdale's goal looked a bit too open when Ritchie Bator came free, but Steven Haugue reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Freddie Meehan stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Blair Scholes's shot from short distance in the 18th minute. After 22 played minutes Ninfield got a freekick which was hit by Calvin Hunt. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Denzil Mulford in the 24th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Freddie Meehan saved Ninfield from getting behind. The audience thought a goal was coming when Blair Scholes got free with Freddie Meehan in the 26th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Denzil Mulford might have been able to make a better finish in the 28th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Freddie Meehan. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Denzil Mulford ran back to his position shaking his head. The crowd rose to their feet as Skelmersdale's Denzil Mulford slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Freddie Meehan. That made the score 2-0 after 32 minutes of play. In the 36th minute, Joe Marriott 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. After 37th play minutes Joe Marriott shot 3-0, a short shot which went by Freddie Meehan and just under the crossbar into goal. In the 41st minute of the match, Denzil Mulford tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Freddie Meehan saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. After some careless play in the Skelmersdale defense, Ritchie Bator kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Steven Haugue. The Skelmersdale fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Steven Haugue should have stopped the shot. Freddie Meehan made an important save on a dangerous shot by Joe Marriott in the 48th minute.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Denzil Mulford was the one to do the kick off. Ninfield's Freddie Meehan played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Denzil Mulford in the 55th minute of play. Ninfield's Rueben Gardener got a good chance for a goal in the 61st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Freddie Meehan took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joe Marriott, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 70th minute, Ronnie Krief had to be helped off the field due to a pulled leg muscle. Skelmersdale made a substitution. Stuart Harding replaced Ronnie Krief. Denzil Mulford recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 73rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 77 minutes into the game, Denzil Mulford cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 4-1. Freddie Meehan was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 83rd minute Denzil Mulford shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Freddie Meehan saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. A collision led to Skelmersdale getting a freekick after 84 minutes play. Stuart Harding hit a great ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Denzil Mulford in the 90th minute of play forced Ninfield's goalkeeper Freddie Meehan to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Freddie Meehan showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Denzil Mulford, who was totally free with the ball in the 93rd minute. In the 95th minute Joe Marriott shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Freddie Meehan saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. It was no surprise that this one had ended in a win for the home team. Skelmersdale had played much better football throughout.