League

Thrybergh Park
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. Sean Archer started the match with the kick off. After 3 played minutes gateshead express got a freekick which was hit by Freddie Stubbs. Bart Hatcher made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Sean Archer in the 5th minute of play. Simon Skipton fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 6th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Bart Hatcher having to interfere. Jimmy Cheswick charged in rather forcefully in the 8th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Jimmy Cheswick the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After a rather tough play, Thrybergh AFC's Jimmy Cheswick got a free kick in the 8th minute. After a rather tough play, Thrybergh AFC's Karl Fleetwood got a free kick in the 10th minute. In the 11th minute, David Hulbert 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. 12 minutes into the game, gateshead express's Rhys Waller nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Guy Hurst made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. Simon Skipton 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. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Sean Archer in the 26th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Bart Hatcher saved gateshead express from getting behind. 29 minutes into the match, gateshead express's David Hulbert sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Guy Hurst narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 36th minute, Simon Skipton 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by David Hulbert in the 39th minute of play forced Thrybergh AFC's goalkeeper Guy Hurst to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Sean Archer had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 43rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell David Hulbert to make the kick off. After 55 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for gateshead express! Vernon Worrall shot the penalty kick right outside the post. Simon Skipton blasted a shot towards the goal in the 61st minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Bart Hatcher having to make a save. In the 64th minute, Jerome Constable hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The audience was convinced that David Hulbert's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Guy Hurst was relentless in the 66th minute of the game. In the 69th minute David Hulbert shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Guy Hurst saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Thrybergh AFC's zone, David Hulbert stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Guy Hurst came out of the goal and David Hulbert tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 74 minutes into the match, Sean Archer had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Bart Hatcher. gateshead express's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Sean Archer was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-1. With a little luck, Thrybergh AFC's Guy Hurst got control of the ball when Rhys Waller tried to sneak it across the goal line. David Hulbert recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 80th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Simon Skipton in the 84th minute of play forced gateshead express's goalkeeper Bart Hatcher to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Rhys Waller sent away a hard shot on goal in the 87th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Guy Hurst made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from David Hulbert in the 91st minute of play. In the 94th match minute, gateshead express was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Rio Johnston to maneuver through the defense. Thrybergh AFC were clearly unhappy with the draw, as they felt they had done enough to earn themselves a victory.