League

Cheadle Stadium
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. Calvin Lister started the match with the kick off. Ed Dunlop's late challenge caught a Long Hanborough's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Ed Dunlop helped the player get up and apologised. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 2nd minute of the game. One of Cheadle FC:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Long Hanborough:s goal. The referee gave Long Hanborough a penalty, 4 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Victor Key, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Cheadle FC's Barrie Cullen. 0-1. Barrie Cullen showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jonathon Cole, who was totally free with the ball in the 7th minute. Freddy Ashton kicked well hit freekick during the 8th minute of the match. A hard shot by Darius Aldridge from long distance, 9 minutes into the match, got Denny Bennet's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. A collision led to Long Hanborough getting a freekick after 11 minutes play. Deon Fleetham hit a great ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 12th minute, Darius Aldridge managed to get in a good position for a shot. Cheadle FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Darius Aldridge was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Denny Bennet breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. A hard shot 26 in the game by Calvin Lister from a close distance when the talented Denny Bennet managed to make a qualified save. Long Hanborough's players were relieved. The supporters of Cheadle FC booed when Long Hanborough was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 32 match minutes in a wonderful position. Freddy Ashton didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Damon Chipperfield had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 35th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 37 played minutes Long Hanborough got a freekick which was hit by Victor Key. Darius Aldridge was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 38th played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. Calvin Lister fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 39th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Denny Bennet having to interfere. Barrie Cullen stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Damon Chipperfield's shot from short distance in the 42nd minute. Disappointed in the 0-2 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

After a defensive mix-up in Long Hanborough's zone, Ashley Hickson stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Denny Bennet came out of the goal and Ashley Hickson tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Calvin Lister struck a weak shot in the 62nd minute. Denny Bennet didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Cheadle FC. When Cheadle FC's Calvin Lister in the 68th minute got a chance for a shot 68th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Long Hanborough's goalie prevented a goal. Damon Chipperfield's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Barrie Cullen read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 79th minute of play. In the 81stth minute of the game Jonathon Cole who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Cheadle FC's Barrie Cullen was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Cheadle FC's Ashley Hickson got a good chance for a goal in the 82nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Denny Bennet made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ashley Hickson in the 84th minute of play. After 88 played minutes Long Hanborough got a freekick which was hit by Leo Welch. Cheadle FC's Barrie Cullen proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 91st minute of the match, managed to save Cheadle FC from getting a goal against them. In the 93rd minute, Jonathon Cole reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Barrie Cullen. The goal made the score 0-4. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Long Hanborough eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.