League

Ambleside
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. Kris Winterbine started the match with the kick off. Ryan Harper showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Conal Gray, who was totally free with the ball in the 5th minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Damian Patterson got free with Ryan Harper in the 8th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After 12 minutes of play, Watton-at-Stone's Kris Winterbine made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Shane Ruddock was left in no man's land by his defense there! Ryan Harper made an important save on a dangerous shot by Jack Carey-Bertram in the 18th minute. In the 20th minute of the match, Conal Gray tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Ryan Harper saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. Quentin Van Der Hoorn kicked well hit freekick during the 23rd minute of the match. The supporters of Watton-at-Stone booed when Ambleside was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 25 match minutes in a wonderful position. Marek Payne didn't get a good kick on the ball. Ambleside's Shane Ruddock played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Kris Winterbine in the 26th minute of play. Ryan Harper showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Conal Gray, who was totally free with the ball in the 27th minute. Jack Carey-Bertram could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 28th minute of the match, but Ryan Harper made a huge save. Shane Ruddock showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Kris Winterbine in the 29th minute of the match. After 32 played minutes Watton-at-Stone got a freekick which was hit by Kris Winterbine. In the 33rd minute of the match, Conal Gray tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Ryan Harper saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. Gordon Blake struck a weak shot in the 39th minute. Shane Ruddock didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Watton-at-Stone. 41 minutes into the match, Kris Winterbine had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Shane Ruddock. Ambleside's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Kris Winterbine was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-2.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Conal Gray to strike the kick off in the second half. In the 51st minute, Sean Chambers hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. An unexpectedly hard shot by Conal Gray in the 52nd minute of play forced Watton-at-Stone's goalkeeper Ryan Harper to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Damian Patterson took the ball and in the 55 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Ryan Harper. Ryan Harper dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-2. If Sean Chambers had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 61st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jack Carey-Bertram received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 65th minute. Ryan Harper tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Watton-at-Stone's Ryan Harper played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Damian Patterson in the 67th minute of play. If Conal Gray had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 68th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 71 minutes into the game, Damian Patterson cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-2. Ryan Harper was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Shane Ruddock made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Marty Gale in the 79th minute of play. After 81 minutes of play, Ambleside's Conal Gray made it 3-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Ryan Harper was left in no man's land by his defense there! After some careless play in the Watton-at-Stone defense, Conal Gray kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Ryan Harper. The Watton-at-Stone fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Ryan Harper should have stopped the shot. Watton-at-Stone's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.