League

Ilford
Spectators: 7500 (Terracing: 5625, Seating: 1725, VIP seats: 150) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Philip Holmes kicked off to start the match. In the 5th minute, Philip Holmes 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. Brendon Prior made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Philip Holmes in the 13th minute of play. Grant Blackwell fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 18th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Austin Leach having to interfere. AC Allianssi's Austin Leach played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Henry Simpson in the 22nd minute of play. 27 minutes had been played when some careless play by Alton's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Roger Chambers was slow to take the kick. During this time AC Allianssi's players had a chance to rest. Roger Chambers made a great header on AC Allianssi's corner, it was just that Alton's Brendon Prior managed to reach the ball for a save. In the 32nd minute, Tristram Rashleigh reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Brendon Prior. The goal made the score 1-0. Henry Simpson sent away a hard shot on goal in the 37th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Rueben Nelson who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 45thth minute tested the skills of Brendon Prior when he managed to save the team from getting behind. In the 46th minute, Bart Bridgeman hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Rueben Nelson sent away a hard shot on goal in the 47th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Henry Simpson to make the kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Philip Holmes in the 56th minute of play forced Alton's goalkeeper Brendon Prior to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. AC Allianssi's Austin Leach proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 58th minute of the match, managed to save AC Allianssi from getting a goal against them. After having played for 61 minutes, Rueben Nelson managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. AC Allianssi's supporters crossed their fingers, but Rueben Nelson was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Austin Leach took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Henry Simpson, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Henry Simpson fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 72nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Austin Leach having to interfere. In the 76th minute Philip Holmes shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Brendon Prior saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a rather tough play, Alton's Henry Simpson got a free kick in the 77th minute. Henry Simpson sent away a hard shot on goal in the 79th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Brendon Prior made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Philip Holmes in the 83rd minute of play. Austin Leach showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Henry Simpson in the 85th minute of the match. Grant Blackwell could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 88th minute of the match, but Austin Leach made a huge save. Henry Simpson received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 89th minute. Austin Leach tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Brendon Prior made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Rueben Nelson in the 94th minute of play. After having played for 97 minutes, Grant Blackwell managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Alton's supporters crossed their fingers, but Grant Blackwell was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The AC Allianssi fans cheered their team off the field, for while Alton had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.