League

Cowplain
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Miles Ring in the 3rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Rodd Shotton prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After a rather tough play, Cowplain's Joshua Dawson got a free kick in the 4th minute. Fitz Furlong 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. Miles Ring's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Rodd Shotton read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 8th minute of play. In the 9th minute, Joshua Dawson hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Graham Fleetham's late challenge caught a Orpington FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Graham Fleetham helped the player get up and apologised. Graham Fleetham kicked well hit freekick during the 13th minute of the match. 13 minutes into the match, Orpington FC's Tosh Strong broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. In the 14th minute, one of Cowplain:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Cowplain. In the 16th minute there was a penalty for Orpington FC. Tosh Strong stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Rodd Shotton. 0-1. Eric Davis fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 20th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Bob Nelthorpe having to interfere. After 24 played minutes Orpington FC got a freekick which was hit by Jay Dlyan. In the 25th minute of the match Benji Devaney shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Bob Nelthorpe showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Orpington FC's zone, Eric Davis stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Bob Nelthorpe came out of the goal and Eric Davis tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Bob Nelthorpe showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jo Burgess, who was totally free with the ball in the 29th minute. When Benji Devaney fell near the penalty area in the 32nd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Cowplain's protests and gave Benji Devaney a yellow card for diving instead. In a very dangerous position, a player in Cowplain fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 32nd minute. Penalty! In the 38th minute, Jo Burgess hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In a very dangerous position, a player in Cowplain fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 39th minute. Penalty! Tosh Strong shot the penalty kick by force right in the crossbar. No goal. 44 minutes into the match, Orpington FC's goalkeeper Bob Nelthorpe had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Eric Davis. After some fancy dribbling in the 49th minute, Jo Burgess managed to get in a good position for a shot. Cowplain's supporters rose to their feet, but Jo Burgess was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Bob Nelthorpe breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The Cowplain players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Orpington FC were winning 0-1.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Jo Burgess was the one to do the kick off. 54 minutes into the match, Orpington FC's goal looked a bit too open when Eric Davis came free, but Bob Nelthorpe reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Jo Burgess had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 55th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jo Burgess sent away a hard shot on goal in the 57th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When Jo Burgess came up free with the goalie in the 62nd minute, the Cowplain 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 Jo Burgess couldn't finish the play. After having played for 68 minutes, Eric Davis managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Cowplain's supporters crossed their fingers, but Eric Davis was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Jo Burgess sent away a hard shot on goal in the 78th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When Eric Davis came up free with the goalie in the 80th minute, the Cowplain 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 Eric Davis couldn't finish the play. Bob Nelthorpe stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Jo Burgess's shot from short distance in the 81st minute. Orpington FC's Miles Ring got a good chance for a goal in the 83rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The audience was convinced that Jo Burgess's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Bob Nelthorpe was relentless in the 87th minute of the game. In the 88th minute, Eric Davis left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Cowplain fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. Eric Davis might have been able to make a better finish in the 97th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Bob Nelthorpe. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Eric Davis ran back to his position shaking his head. Eric Davis fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 99th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Bob Nelthorpe having to interfere. The Orpington FC players were the happier at the end of the match as they had prevented Cowplain from taking control. The game ends in a draw.