League

chicken stadium
Spectators: 7504 (Terracing: 5629, Seating: 1726, VIP seats: 149) Stocksbridge FC's Cliff Paley started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Spike Chandler recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 5th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 11th minute, Stocksbridge FC's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Gavin Middleton fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. An unexpectedly hard shot by Spike Chandler in the 18th minute of play forced Stocksbridge FC's goalkeeper Jude Sykes to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 20 minutes into the game, Kurczaki Bradford FC's Gavin Middleton nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Jude Sykes made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0. Kevin Aspinall's late challenge caught a Kurczaki Bradford FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Kevin Aspinall helped the player get up and apologised. In the 24th match minute, Stocksbridge FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Kevin Aspinall to maneuver through the defense. Brett Walton hit a great freekick 36 minutes into the match. In the 37th minute, Cliff Paley hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After having played for 39 minutes, Verne Brennan managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Stocksbridge FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Verne Brennan was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Robin Potterton fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 43rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Deon Haigh having to interfere. Deon Haigh showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cliff Paley, who was totally free with the ball in the 46th minute. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 1-0.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Spike Chandler stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. In the 51st minute, Robin Potterton 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. In the 56th minute Spike Chandler shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jude Sykes saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 57th match minute, Stocksbridge FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Robin Potterton to maneuver through the defense. The Kurczaki Bradford FC fans' excitement grew in the 58th match minute when Kurczaki Bradford FC's Gavin Middleton looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 2-0 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. If Verne Brennan had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 61st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The supporters of Kurczaki Bradford FC booed when Stocksbridge FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 64 match minutes in a wonderful position. Cliff Paley didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Gavin Middleton had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 66th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 72 played minutes Kurczaki Bradford FC got a freekick which was hit by Ted Blakewell. In the 73rd minute, Cliff Paley 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. The supporters of Stocksbridge FC booed when Kurczaki Bradford FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 74 match minutes in a wonderful position. Robert Corbridge didn't get a good kick on the ball. Deon Haigh took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cliff Paley, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cliff Paley in the 79th minute of play forced Kurczaki Bradford FC's goalkeeper Deon Haigh to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The audience was convinced that Cliff Paley's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Deon Haigh was relentless in the 87th minute of the game. Cliff Paley 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. Verne Brennan sent away a hard shot on goal in the 93rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Verne Brennan scored 2-2 in the 95th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Deon Haigh, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Despite being the better team, Stocksbridge FC failed to find the winning goal and were forced to settle for a single point.