League

Barnstaple Stadium
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Running Ducks's Neil Norton started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Wes Meade made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Phil Poynton in the 3rd minute of play. Ray Dudgeon received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 5th minute. Pedro Featherstone tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Marcus Saxton charged in rather forcefully in the 7th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Marcus Saxton the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The supporters of Newton Aycliffe booed when Running Ducks was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 7 match minutes in a wonderful position. Marcus Saxton didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 8th minute, a hard, long distance shot from Phil Jobson hit the top of the crossbar and flew over the goal. After a defensive mix-up in Running Ducks's zone, Phil Poynton stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Wes Meade came out of the goal and Phil Poynton tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Running Ducks's Wes Meade played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Bruce Hopgood in the 11th minute of play. Phil Poynton sent away a hard shot on goal in the 12th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. With his leg Pedro Featherstone managed to avoid a goal in the 16thth minute, when Running Ducks's Ray Dudgeon fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Newton Aycliffe's Pedro Featherstone played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Neil Norton in the 17th minute of play. After a rather tough play, Newton Aycliffe's Lennie Hudson got a free kick in the 17th minute. In the 22nd minute, Ray Dudgeon 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. Wes Meade showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Phil Poynton, who was totally free with the ball in the 26th minute. In the 27th match minute, Running Ducks was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Seb Lynam to maneuver through the defense. Running Ducks's Wes Meade played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Bruce Hopgood in the 29th minute of play. After 32 played minutes Running Ducks got a freekick which was hit by Darius Bettney. Wes Meade stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Phil Poynton's shot from short distance in the 37th minute. 45 minutes into the game, Running Ducks's Ray Dudgeon nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Pedro Featherstone made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Phil Poynton made a kick off. With a little luck, Running Ducks's Wes Meade got control of the ball when Bruce Hopgood tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 56th minute, John Clegg hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The supporters of Running Ducks booed when Newton Aycliffe was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 63 match minutes in a wonderful position. Paul Stayton didn't get a good kick on the ball. 64 minutes into the match, Running Ducks's Lance Garner broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. Pedro Featherstone showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Neil Norton, who was totally free with the ball in the 65th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Neil Norton in the 67th minute of play forced Newton Aycliffe's goalkeeper Pedro Featherstone to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Ben Croft kicked well hit freekick during the 70th minute of the match. Bruce Hopgood fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 71st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Wes Meade having to interfere. When Kris Hoskins fell near the penalty area in the 74th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Running Ducks's protests and gave Kris Hoskins a yellow card for diving instead. In the 74th match minute, Running Ducks was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Kris Hoskins to maneuver through the defense. In the 77th match minute, Running Ducks was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Seb Lynam to maneuver through the defense. A long shot from Phil Jobson in the 78th minute of play was well struck, but Wes Meade made a really good save at the right post. 79 minutes into the match, Running Ducks's goal looked a bit too open when Phil Poynton came free, but Wes Meade reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The crowd rose to their feet as Bruce Hopgood kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Wes Meade. That made the score 1-1 in the 80 minute of play. In the 85th minute, Phil Poynton fired away a shot on goal. He put a little to much spin on the ball and sent it just wide of the right post. 87 minutes into the game, Running Ducks's Neil Norton nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Pedro Featherstone made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-1. Wes Meade came out of the goal in the 90th minute to try and stop a shot by Newton Aycliffe's Bruce Hopgood. But to his dismay, Bruce Hopgood quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-2. If Ray Dudgeon had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 93rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Neil Norton fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 95th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Pedro Featherstone having to interfere.