League

Wokingham Park
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Knottingley's Lenny Deighton 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. Lenny Deighton sent away a hard shot on goal in the 6th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 10 minutes into the match, Greenwood FC's goal looked a bit too open when Chaz Beswetherick came free, but Pierce Phippard reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 14th minute, Lenny Deighton 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. 16 minutes into the game, Basil Boyes was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Greenwood FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Knottingley the free kick. Basil Boyes hit a great freekick 16 minutes into the match. Gez Townsley sent away a hard shot on goal in the 22nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 25 minutes into the match, Knottingley's Lenny Deighton sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Pierce Phippard narrowly saved just below the crossbar. The supporters of Knottingley booed when Greenwood FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 26 match minutes in a wonderful position. Rob Forrest didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 32ndth minute of the game Lenny Deighton who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Greenwood FC's Pierce Phippard was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Gez Townsley sent away a hard shot on goal in the 36th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a rather tough play, Knottingley's Frank Slade got a free kick in the 46th minute. John Hunter fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 47th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Roger Cousens having to interfere. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Gez Townsley to make the kick off. After a defensive mix-up in Knottingley's zone, John Hunter stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Roger Cousens came out of the goal and John Hunter tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. When Chaz Beswetherick came up free with the goalie in the 61st minute, the Knottingley fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Chaz Beswetherick couldn't finish the play. If Chaz Beswetherick had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 63rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Chaz Beswetherick who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 66thth minute tested the skills of Pierce Phippard when he managed to save the team from getting behind. A collision led to Greenwood FC getting a freekick after 67 minutes play. Basil Boyes hit a great ball. Chaz Beswetherick fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 73rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Pierce Phippard having to interfere. Chaz Beswetherick received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 75th minute. Pierce Phippard tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Chaz Beswetherick had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 77th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. If Lenny Deighton had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 77th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 78th minute, Rob Forrest hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 79th minute, Lenny Deighton reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Pierce Phippard. The goal made the score 0-1. Gez Townsley might have been able to make a better finish in the 85th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Roger Cousens. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Gez Townsley ran back to his position shaking his head. Knottingley's Roger Cousens played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gez Townsley in the 93rd minute of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Chaz Beswetherick got free with Pierce Phippard in the 95th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 96 minutes into the match, Greenwood FC's goalkeeper Pierce Phippard had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Chaz Beswetherick. When the final whistle was heard the away supporters stood up and showed their joy. Knottingley had managed to secure a win in what was a close match throughout.