League

Neen Sollars Park
Spectators: 7524 (Terracing: 5644, Seating: 1730, VIP seats: 150) Francis Deeney started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. In the 6th minute Francis Deeney shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Norman Ellis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Derek Heath had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 7th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Stinging Nettles's Francis Deeney in the 10th minute got a chance for a shot 10th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Rafa’s Quaranteam's goalie prevented a goal. Norman Ellis didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Derek Heath went, in the 12th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-0 was the resulting score. In the 15th minute, Frank Torpey hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Dominik Le Saux's late challenge caught a Stinging Nettles's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Dominik Le Saux helped the player get up and apologised. In the 19th minute, Dominik Le Saux hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Norman Ellis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Francis Deeney in the 22nd minute of play. Francis Deeney fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 30th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Norman Ellis having to interfere. Dominik Le Saux got his second yellow card in the match during the 32nd minute which meant that he had to leave the ground. Dominik Le Saux hit a great freekick 33 minutes into the match. Derek Heath sent away a hard shot on goal in the 35th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Francis Deeney's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Norman Ellis read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 45th minute of play. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Derek Farrell stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Norman Ellis showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Nial Cusack, who was totally free with the ball in the 51st minute. Jay Jefferson hit a great freekick 52 minutes into the match. 55 minutes into the game, Barry Featherstone was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Rafa’s Quaranteam's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Stinging Nettles the free kick. After a rather tough play, Rafa’s Quaranteam's Barry Featherstone got a free kick in the 55th minute. Jay Jefferson hit a great freekick 58 minutes into the match. Norman Ellis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Francis Deeney in the 62nd minute of play. Norman Ellis didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Francis Deeney went, in the 65th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-0 was the resulting score. After a rather tough play, Rafa’s Quaranteam's Barry Featherstone got a free kick in the 71st minute. In the 72ndth minute of the game Francis Deeney who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Rafa’s Quaranteam's Norman Ellis was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Francis Deeney received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 74th minute. Norman Ellis tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 76th minute, Francis Deeney 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. When Nial Cusack came up free with the goalie in the 77th minute, the Stinging Nettles 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 Nial Cusack couldn't finish the play. After having played for 82 minutes, Derek Farrell managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Rafa’s Quaranteam's supporters crossed their fingers, but Derek Farrell was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Derek Farrell fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 85th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Archie Mullen having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in Stinging Nettles's zone, Derek Farrell stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Archie Mullen came out of the goal and Derek Farrell tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Francis Deeney sent away a hard shot on goal in the 90th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Nial Cusack struck a weak shot in the 93rd minute. Norman Ellis didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Stinging Nettles. Stinging Nettles's supporters were delighted with their team's performance and swarmed onto the pitch at the end of the match to celebrate the victory with the players.