League

Oakengates 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. Stuart Illingworth started the match with the kick off. Gav Bayliff showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Rich Hird, who was totally free with the ball in the 5th minute. Gav Bayliff took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gary Lamb, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The supporters of Oakengates booed when Alderley Edge AFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 8 match minutes in a wonderful position. Grant Beecham didn't get a good kick on the ball. Stuart Illingworth's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Carl Litchfield read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 10th minute of play. If Loyd Delaney had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 12th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. A collision led to Oakengates getting a freekick after 16 minutes play. Wally Boyle hit a great ball. Gav Bayliff made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gary Lamb in the 17th minute of play. Stuart Illingworth received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 22nd minute. Carl Litchfield tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After a rather tough play, Alderley Edge AFC's Kenny Waite got a free kick in the 23rd minute. If Stuart Illingworth had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 29th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Oakengates's Gav Bayliff played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gary Lamb in the 33rd minute of play. If Loyd Delaney had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 35th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Carl Litchfield made an important save on a dangerous shot by Loyd Delaney in the 39th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gary Lamb in the 41st minute of play forced Oakengates's goalkeeper Gav Bayliff to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 47th minute the ball was on its way in behind Alderley Edge AFC's goalkeeper Carl Litchfield, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar.

The wind increased when Gary Lamb made the kick off in the second half. After some fancy dribbling in the 51st minute, Stuart Illingworth managed to get in a good position for a shot. Oakengates's supporters rose to their feet, but Stuart Illingworth was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Carl Litchfield breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Alderley Edge AFC's Grant Bromley shoveled away a really nice long shot in the 54th minute of play. The shot was stopped by Gav Bayliff but with some difficulty. Carl Litchfield showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Loyd Delaney, who was totally free with the ball in the 56th minute. In the 60th minute, Loyd Delaney ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Carl Litchfield was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-0. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luke Kerr in the 68th minute of play forced Alderley Edge AFC's goalkeeper Carl Litchfield to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 69 played minutes Alderley Edge AFC got a freekick which was hit by Cody Garforth. 72 minutes into the match, Alderley Edge AFC's Grant Beecham sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Gav Bayliff narrowly saved just below the crossbar. If Loyd Delaney had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 73rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Carl Litchfield made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Stuart Illingworth in the 77th minute of play. Stuart Illingworth 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. In the 79th match minute, Alderley Edge AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Kenny Waite to maneuver through the defense. In the 95th minute of the match Tod Redwood-Turner shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Carl Litchfield showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. Loyd Delaney's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Carl Litchfield read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 96th minute of play. For all the effort they put into the match, the Alderley Edge AFC players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Oakengates.