League

Beckton
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Russ Maxwell kicked off to start the match. After some careless play in the Beckton defense, Ralf Cowling kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Pierce Bennett. The Beckton fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Pierce Bennett should have stopped the shot. 9 minutes into the match, Manchester Devils's goal looked a bit too open when Drew Merrill came free, but Tommy Ellis reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Pierce Bennett showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ed Goldthorpe, who was totally free with the ball in the 10th minute. Pierce Bennett didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Ralf Cowling went, in the 14th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-2 was the resulting score. 18 minutes into the game, Manchester Devils's Deon Ellerton nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Pierce Bennett made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-3. 25 minutes into the match, Russ Maxwell had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Pierce Bennett. Beckton's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Russ Maxwell was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-4. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Russ Maxwell in the 29th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Pierce Bennett prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Manchester Devils's Tommy Ellis proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 30th minute of the match, managed to save Manchester Devils from getting a goal against them. Tyler Notley hit a great freekick 31 minutes into the match. Tommy Ellis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Drew Merrill in the 34th minute of play. 38 minutes into the game, Ralf Cowling cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-5. Pierce Bennett was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Pierce Bennett showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ralf Cowling, who was totally free with the ball in the 42nd minute. After a rather tough play, Beckton's Jay Beale got a free kick in the 43rd minute. The Beckton players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Manchester Devils were winning 0-5.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Drew Merrill to strike the kick off in the second half. In the 54th match minute, Manchester Devils was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Russ Maxwell to maneuver through the defense. After some careless play in the Manchester Devils defense, Drew Merrill kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Tommy Ellis. The Manchester Devils fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Tommy Ellis should have stopped the shot. After 59 played minutes Ralf Cowling rounded Beckton's defense and shot a beautiful shot into goal via left pole - 1-6. Rob Hartley recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 63rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Beckton's Pierce Bennett played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Russ Maxwell in the 67th minute of play. In the 69th minute, Manchester Devils's Ralf Cowling dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-7. Pierce Bennett made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ralf Cowling in the 72nd minute of play. In the 77th minute Drew Merrill shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tommy Ellis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Drew Merrill took the ball and in the 80 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Tommy Ellis. Tommy Ellis dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-7. With a little luck, Beckton's Pierce Bennett got control of the ball when Russ Maxwell tried to sneak it across the goal line. Tommy Ellis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Marc Broom in the 86th minute of play. In the 87th match minute, Manchester Devils was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Rob Hartley to maneuver through the defense. Deon Ellerton recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 89th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. When the match was over Manchester Devils could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Beckton throughout the match.