Long Crendon
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000,
Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Vern Hayes made the kick off which started today's match. Kris McGrath's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Warren Barltrop read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 5th minute of play. A collision led to Long Crendon getting a freekick after 5 minutes play. Denis Gerrard hit a great ball. Vern Hayes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 9th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 11th minute, Kris McGrath left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Mitch FC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. The supporters of Long Crendon booed when Mitch FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 17 match minutes in a wonderful position. Bart Philpott didn't get a good kick on the ball. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Vern Hayes in the 20th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Joel Silk saved Mitch FC from getting behind. Warren Barltrop made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tristan Burbeary in the 24th minute of play. In the 25th minute, Kris McGrath 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. Kris McGrath fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 27th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Warren Barltrop having to interfere. 30 minutes in the game, Vern Hayes fired away an excellent shot, which passed to the side of the right post without Joel Silk having to interfere. A hard shot by Ivan Buckler from long distance, 31 minutes into the match, got Joel Silk's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. With an all-out effort, Long Crendon's Joel Silk threw himself towards the right post 32 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Vern Hayes, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. An unexpectedly hard shot by Kris McGrath in the 36th minute of play forced Long Crendon's goalkeeper Warren Barltrop to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Tristan Burbeary in the 38th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Warren Barltrop saved Long Crendon from getting behind. When Bart Philpott fell near the penalty area in the 38th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Mitch FC's protests and gave Bart Philpott a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Long Crendon booed when Mitch FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 39 match minutes in a wonderful position. Bart Philpott didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 44th minute Tristan Burbeary shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Warren Barltrop saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 47th match minute, Long Crendon was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Doug Midgley to maneuver through the defense. Brendon Preece, 48 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.
The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Tristan Burbeary stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After a defensive mix-up in Long Crendon's zone, Bart Philpott stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Warren Barltrop came out of the goal and Bart Philpott tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Kris McGrath received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 55th minute. Warren Barltrop tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Kris McGrath had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 56th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Tristan Burbeary might have been able to make a better finish in the 58th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Warren Barltrop. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Tristan Burbeary ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 60th match minute, Mitch FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Graham Blewitt to maneuver through the defense. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Vern Ward in the 61st minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Joel Silk prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 63rd minute of the match Andre Thomson shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Joel Silk showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. If Vern Hayes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 64th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Vern Hayes fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 66th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Joel Silk having to interfere. Doug Midgley charged in rather forcefully in the 68th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Doug Midgley the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Doug Midgley hit a great freekick 69 minutes into the match. Kris McGrath received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 70th minute. Warren Barltrop tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 70 minutes, Kris McGrath mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Mitch FC and the Long Crendon players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 70 played minutes Mitch FC got a freekick which was hit by Kris McGrath. In the 75th minute, Tristan Burbeary fired away a shot on goal. He put a little to much spin on the ball and sent it just wide of the right post. Denis Gerrard scored 1-1 in the 79th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Joel Silk, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 82nd minute, Bart Philpott hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Kris McGrath could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 92nd minute of the match, but Warren Barltrop made a huge save. Warren Barltrop made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tristan Burbeary in the 94th minute of play. Hugh Burbeary charged in rather forcefully in the 95th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Hugh Burbeary the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Mitch FC's Brendon Preece shoveled away a really nice long shot in the 99th minute of play. The shot was stopped by Warren Barltrop but with some difficulty. The teams fought very hard right up to the final whistle. Both sets of players were happy to go away with a draw.
Change language
