League

the nookery
Spectators: 7545 (Terracing: 5660, Seating: 1735, VIP seats: 150) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Leroy Eagles got the match started through his kick off. Ken Messenger took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from John Hunter, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. John Hunter recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 4th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After 8 minutes, Cliff Homes mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Byfleet Rangers and the Greenwood FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 8th minute, Cliff Homes hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. An unexpectedly hard shot by Vern Way in the 10th minute of play forced Byfleet Rangers's goalkeeper Ken Messenger to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Leroy Eagles was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 12th minute. Byfleet Rangers's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. 14 minutes into the game, Byfleet Rangers's Ruben Haines nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Pierce Phippard made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0. In the 19th play minute Ruben Haines came free and shot an unsuspected shot which went into goal from the right pole behind a surprised Pierce Phippard. 2-0. Vern Way sent away a hard shot on goal in the 22nd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Jon Backhouse's late challenge caught a Greenwood FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Jon Backhouse helped the player get up and apologised. After 23 played minutes Byfleet Rangers got a freekick which was hit by Jon Backhouse. Ruben Haines sent away a hard shot on goal in the 30th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 34th minute Vern Way shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ken Messenger saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Vern Way scored 2-1 in the 36th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Ken Messenger, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. John Hunter took the ball and in the 44 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Ken Messenger. Ken Messenger dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-2. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

If John Hunter had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 54th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. A collision led to Greenwood FC getting a freekick after 56 minutes play. Vern Way hit a great ball. Greenwood FC's John Hunter managed to work through Byfleet Rangers's defense and was going for an easy goal, but he hit the shot with his toe and the ball flew outside the goal. John Hunter dejectedly held out his arms as if to ask why the ball hadn't gone in. The supporters of Greenwood FC booed when Byfleet Rangers was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 59 match minutes in a wonderful position. Camron Carey didn't get a good kick on the ball. The supporters of Greenwood FC booed when Byfleet Rangers was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 65 match minutes in a wonderful position. Jon Backhouse didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Vern Way had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 66th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ken Messenger made an important save on a dangerous shot by Vern Way in the 73rd minute. If John Hunter had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 74th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Vern Way had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 78th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. John Hunter might have been able to make a better finish in the 80th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Ken Messenger. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. John Hunter ran back to his position shaking his head. Ken Messenger made a fantastic save in the 88th minute, when Vern Way sent off a good shot on target. With his leg Ken Messenger managed to avoid a goal in the 89thth minute, when Greenwood FC's John Hunter fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. With a little luck, Byfleet Rangers's Ken Messenger got control of the ball when Vern Way tried to sneak it across the goal line. If Leroy Eagles had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 92nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Vern Way had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 96th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead.