League

Tennyson Road
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. Darryl Henry started the match with the kick off. In the 5th minute, Zane Seagrave hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 7 played minutes Theale AVFC got a freekick which was hit by Warren Bowland. Johnny Mason might have been able to make a better finish in the 24th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Bernie Lucas. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Johnny Mason ran back to his position shaking his head. Andre Hellen fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 26th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Bernie Lucas having to interfere. Oliver Santos sent away a hard shot on goal in the 28th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 30th minute Joe Whalley shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Travis Gilchrist saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 31 minutes into the game, Theale AVFC's Joe Whalley nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Travis Gilchrist made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. Darryl Henry struck a weak shot in the 36th minute. Bernie Lucas didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Durham City. 1-1 became the score in the 41st minute when Andre Hellen elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. 47 minutes into the match, Darryl Henry dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Bernie Lucas, 2-1. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 2-1.

53 minutes into the match, Theale AVFC's goal looked a bit too open when Andre Hellen came free, but Bernie Lucas reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Darryl Henry in the 54th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Bernie Lucas prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After 58 minutes, Warren Bowland mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Theale AVFC and the Durham City players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 58th match minute, Theale AVFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Warren Bowland to maneuver through the defense. Darryl Henry sent away a hard shot on goal in the 60th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience was convinced that Andre Hellen's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Bernie Lucas was relentless in the 65th minute of the game. The supporters of Durham City booed when Theale AVFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 68 match minutes in a wonderful position. Nick Lawless didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 69th minute of the match Spike Day sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Bernie Lucas skillfully saved the ball. 71 minutes into the match, Andre Hellen had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Bernie Lucas. Theale AVFC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Andre Hellen was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 3-1. Durham City's Travis Gilchrist played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joe Whalley in the 74th minute of play. If Oliver Santos had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 78th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Nick Lawless's late challenge caught a Durham City's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Nick Lawless helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, Theale AVFC's Nick Lawless got a free kick in the 82nd minute. After a defensive mix-up in Durham City's zone, Oliver Santos stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Travis Gilchrist came out of the goal and Oliver Santos tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 89th minute, Nick Lawless hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Darryl Henry fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 90th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Bernie Lucas having to interfere. Andre Hellen fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 92nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Bernie Lucas having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Darryl Henry in the 94th minute of play forced Theale AVFC's goalkeeper Bernie Lucas to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 97 minutes into the match, Theale AVFC's goal looked a bit too open when Andre Hellen came free, but Bernie Lucas reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line.