League

DripBasofo Arena
Spectators: 7543 (Terracing: 5659, Seating: 1734, VIP seats: 150) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Rich Swain got the match started through his kick off. Rich Swain fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 3rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nigel Leslie having to interfere. Todd Foster's late challenge caught a Norwich's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Todd Foster helped the player get up and apologised. In the 4th match minute, Basofa Vida FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Todd Foster to maneuver through the defense. 5 minutes into the game, Norwich's Antony Arrowsmith nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Gus Carragher made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. 8 minutes into the game, Antony Arrowsmith was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Norwich's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Basofa Vida FC the free kick. After a rather tough play, Norwich's Antony Arrowsmith got a free kick in the 8th minute. The Norwich fans' excitement grew in the 10th match minute when Norwich's Antony Arrowsmith 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 0-2 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. 20 minutes into the match, Antony Arrowsmith had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Gus Carragher. Basofa Vida FC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Antony Arrowsmith was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-3. Dale Lock took the ball and in the 24 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Nigel Leslie. Nigel Leslie dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-3. In the 27th match minute, Norwich was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ronan Marriott to maneuver through the defense. Basofa Vida FC's Fraser Atkinson got a good chance for a goal in the 28th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After some careless play in the Norwich defense, Damion Tompkins kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Nigel Leslie. The Norwich fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Nigel Leslie should have stopped the shot. 35 minutes into the match, Basofa Vida FC's goal looked a bit too open when Bradley Mansell came free, but Gus Carragher reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 36th minute the ball was on its way in behind Basofa Vida FC's goalkeeper Gus Carragher, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 38 minutes had been played when some careless play by Basofa Vida FC's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Kristian Hepburn was slow to take the kick. During this time Norwich's players had a chance to rest. After a rather tough play, Basofa Vida FC's Pete Cole got a free kick in the 40th minute. Rich Swain could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 44th minute of the match, but Nigel Leslie made a huge save. In the 46th minute, Antony Arrowsmith hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 2-3 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Todd Reid was the one to do the kick off. In the 50th match minute, Norwich was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Bradley Mansell to maneuver through the defense. In the 54th minute of the match, Todd Reid tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Gus Carragher saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. After 58 played minutes Norwich got a freekick which was hit by Roy Deacon. Nigel Leslie made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Rich Swain in the 61st minute of play. The crowd rose to their feet as Norwich's Jonathon Bentham slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Gus Carragher. That made the score 2-4 after 63 minutes of play. Norwich's Nigel Leslie played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rich Swain in the 66th minute of play. The supporters of Basofa Vida FC booed when Norwich was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 68 match minutes in a wonderful position. Kristian Hepburn didn't get a good kick on the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 69th minute, Fraser Atkinson managed to get in a good position for a shot. Basofa Vida FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Fraser Atkinson was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Nigel Leslie breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Gus Carragher took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Jonathon Bentham, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Dale Lock sent away a hard shot on goal in the 72nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Nigel Leslie made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Christian Sheppard in the 74th minute of play. In the 75th minute, Antony Arrowsmith ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Gus Carragher was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-5. Basofa Vida FC's defense didn't have a chance, in the 78th minute, when Todd Reid scored to the left of an out of position Gus Carragher, making the score, 2-6. After some fancy dribbling in the 81st minute, Todd Reid managed to get in a good position for a shot. Norwich's supporters rose to their feet, but Todd Reid was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Gus Carragher breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Gus Carragher showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Todd Reid in the 84th minute of the match. In the 85th minute, Antony Arrowsmith made a precise shot to the right of Gus Carragher. Basofa Vida FC's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-7. Gus Carragher didn't succeed in stopping the ball in the 88th minute, which inside left pole to 2-8. Thanks to some nice moves Antony Arrowsmith could shoot a difficult shot in the 92nd minute, which Gus Carragher however easily saved by the left post. Basofa Vida FC's Gus Carragher played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Todd Reid in the 93rd minute of play. Antony Arrowsmith took the ball and in the 95 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Gus Carragher. Gus Carragher dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-9. Norwich'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.