League

Beckton
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Drew Merrill took the kick off in the first half of the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Geoff Blacknell got free with Honorato Jeraldo in the 3rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Through an outstanding action, after 7 minutes, Honorato Jeraldo successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Drew Merrill during the 12th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After a rather tough play, Beckton's Drew Merrill got a free kick in the 12th minute. When Galacticos's Erik Wennerqvist in the 13th minute got a chance for a shot 13th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Beckton's goalie prevented a goal. Pierce Bennett came out of the goal in the 15th minute to try and stop a shot by Galacticos's Zaq Mahon. But to his dismay, Zaq Mahon quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. Erik Wennerqvist sent away a hard shot on goal in the 18th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Zaq Mahon struck a weak shot in the 35th minute. Pierce Bennett didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Galacticos. Beckton's Pierce Bennett played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Erik Wennerqvist in the 38th minute of play. The audience was convinced that Drew Merrill's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Honorato Jeraldo was relentless in the 41st minute of the game. An unexpectedly hard shot by Erik Wennerqvist in the 42nd minute of play forced Beckton's goalkeeper Pierce Bennett to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a rather tough play, Beckton's Rodd Willmott got a free kick in the 43rd minute. Galacticos's Sol Hargraves got a good chance for a goal in the 46th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-2.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Erik Wennerqvist to make the kick off. Pierce Bennett made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Erik Wennerqvist in the 53rd minute of play. A collision led to Beckton getting a freekick after 56 minutes play. Stuart Purkiss hit a great ball. A collision led to Beckton getting a freekick after 57 minutes play. Rodd Willmott hit a great ball. A hard shot by Rich Radcliffe from long distance, 59 minutes into the match, got Pierce Bennett's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. With a little luck, Beckton's Pierce Bennett got control of the ball when Reggie Durkin tried to sneak it across the goal line. Pierce Bennett showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Sol Hargraves, who was totally free with the ball in the 70th minute. In the 74th minute, Reggie Durkin ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Pierce Bennett was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-4. In the 78th minute, Reggie Durkin hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Erik Wennerqvist had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 81st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Galacticos's Erik Wennerqvist in the 82nd minute got a chance for a shot 82nd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Beckton's goalie prevented a goal. 88 minutes into the match, Beckton's goal looked a bit too open when Erik Wennerqvist came free, but Pierce Bennett reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Reggie Durkin blasted a shot towards the goal in the 91st minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Pierce Bennett having to make a save. Drew Merrill recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 94th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. A collision led to Beckton getting a freekick after 96 minutes play. Grant Jennings hit a great ball. Pierce Bennett was in exellent shape and made a fantastic save when he, in the 97th minute of the match, managed to get hold of the ball after a long shot from Rich Radcliffe. Galacticos'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.