League

Newton Aycliffe
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. Dale Davis started the match with the kick off. In the 3rd match minute, Hendon United FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Pete Parsons to maneuver through the defense. When Dale Davis came up free with the goalie in the 11th minute, the All-blacks 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 Dale Davis couldn't finish the play. All-blacks's Dean Gaskell played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Trey Elwick in the 13th minute of play. Dale Davis fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 16th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Matt Goldthorpe having to interfere. In the 17th match minute, All-blacks was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Conan Smith to maneuver through the defense. If Jay Staple had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 23rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The audience was convinced that Gerry Dennison's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Matt Goldthorpe was relentless in the 28th minute of the game. After 29 played minutes Hendon United FC got a freekick which was hit by Joe Hogg. 31 minutes into the match, Hendon United FC's goal looked a bit too open when Gerry Dennison came free, but Matt Goldthorpe reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Dean Gaskell made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Trey Elwick in the 33rd minute of play. The supporters of All-blacks booed when Hendon United FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 35 match minutes in a wonderful position. Tom Kent didn't get a good kick on the ball. All-blacks's Dean Gaskell proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 38th minute of the match, managed to save All-blacks from getting a goal against them. Gerry Dennison received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 43rd minute. Matt Goldthorpe tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Matt Goldthorpe showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Dale Davis in the 45th minute of the match. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 1-0.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Trey Elwick to strike the kick off in the second half. Gerry Dennison succeeded to score despite a near miss that spronge from right pole into the goal to 1-1 in the 51st playminute. In the 55th minute of the match, Dale Davis tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Matt Goldthorpe saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. 62 minutes into the match, Gerry Dennison had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Matt Goldthorpe. Hendon United FC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Gerry Dennison was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-2. 65 minutes into the game, Tom Kent was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Hendon United FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave All-blacks the free kick. All-blacks's Dale Davis got a good chance for a goal in the 66th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Dale Davis in the 73rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Matt Goldthorpe prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After 73 played minutes Hendon United FC got a freekick which was hit by Tom Kent. An unexpectedly hard shot by Louis Armitage in the 77th minute of play forced All-blacks's goalkeeper Dean Gaskell to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Simeon Torpey fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 81st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Matt Goldthorpe having to interfere. Gerry Dennison's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Matt Goldthorpe firmly grabbed it by the left post. 88 minutes into the match, Jay Staple had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Dean Gaskell. All-blacks's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Jay Staple was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-2. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Jeremy Mortimer during the 94th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 94th minute of the game. One of All-blacks:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Hendon United FC:s goal. In the 96th minute there was a penalty for Hendon United FC. Warren Kirkpatrick stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Dean Gaskell. 3-2. Hendon United FC were really happy, having secured the victory after a very even contest. They thanked the players of All-blacks for a fine match.