League

Snailbeach and Stipe
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Prestwich FC's Carlton Alsford 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. Guy Baum's late challenge caught a Prestwich FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Guy Baum helped the player get up and apologised. Ivan Hay sent away a hard shot on goal in the 12th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 13th match minute, Snailbeach and Stiperstones FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Guy Baum to maneuver through the defense. 17 minutes into the match, Prestwich FC's goalkeeper Jez Selby had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Niall Colton. If Toby Dickner had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 19th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Roy Rowett hit a great freekick 22 minutes into the match. Toby Dickner's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Jez Selby read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 26th minute of play. Toby Dickner received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 28th minute. Jez Selby tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Toby Dickner in the 30th play minute got the chance to kick a hard shot on goal from short distance neither the defense or Jez Selby kept up with the ball and suddenly the score was 1-1 when the ball slipped into goal inside the left pole. Ivan Hay might have been able to make a better finish in the 34th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Wayne Winterbine. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Ivan Hay ran back to his position shaking his head. Wayne Winterbine showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Carlton Alsford, who was totally free with the ball in the 34th minute. 38 minutes into the game, Alfie Norman was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Prestwich FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Snailbeach and Stiperstones FC the free kick. In the 40th minute, Ivan Hay ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Wayne Winterbine was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-2. Wayne Winterbine didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Ivan Hay went, in the 46th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-3 was the resulting score. After the first half Prestwich FC were leading 1-3. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Toby Dickner stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. 57 minutes into the match, Ivan Hay had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Wayne Winterbine. Snailbeach and Stiperstones FC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Ivan Hay was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-4. Wayne Winterbine stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Ivan Hay's shot from short distance in the 64th minute. In the 75th minute, Nial Pelc 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 77th minute, Toby Dickner 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. After a rather tough play, Snailbeach and Stiperstones FC's Jake Hitchcock got a free kick in the 86th minute. After 91 minutes, Glen Topham mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Prestwich FC and the Snailbeach and Stiperstones FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. Jez Selby showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Toby Dickner in the 92nd minute of the match. If Niall Colton had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 95th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The Prestwich FC supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Prestwich FC would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.