League

Cranbrook Stadium
Spectators: 6550 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1500, VIP seats: 50) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Shane Coburn got the match started through his kick off. Carl Henry received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 5th minute. Danny Byrom tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Shane Coburn was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 7th minute. Cranbrook AFC's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. Romeo Clarkson hit a great freekick 8 minutes into the match. Al Coton took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Reuben Beckett, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When Joel Hewitt fell near the penalty area in the 11th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Cranbrook AFC's protests and gave Joel Hewitt a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Richmond FC booed when Cranbrook AFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 11 match minutes in a wonderful position. Joel Hewitt didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Cranbrook AFC's zone, Lance Hedley stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Al Coton came out of the goal and Lance Hedley tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Reuben Beckett received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 15th minute. Al Coton tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Richmond FC's Danny Byrom played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Shane Coburn in the 22nd minute of play. Al Coton showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Reuben Beckett in the 25th minute of the match. In the 28th minute, Reuben Beckett ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Al Coton was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. Al Coton made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lance Hedley in the 31st minute of play. Luke Brown kicked well hit freekick during the 34th minute of the match. If Carl Henry had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 37th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Carl Henry came free with the goalkeeper in the 39th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Danny Byrom could save by the left post. When Carl Henry came up free with the goalie in the 43rd minute, the Cranbrook AFC 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 Carl Henry couldn't finish the play. The Cranbrook AFC players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Richmond FC were winning 0-1.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Reuben Beckett stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After 55 minutes, Shane Coburn mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Cranbrook AFC and the Richmond FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. Richmond FC's Danny Byrom played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Carl Henry in the 57th minute of play. Danny Byrom showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Carl Henry, who was totally free with the ball in the 59th minute. Al Coton took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Reuben Beckett, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Reuben Beckett had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 66th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Carl Henry sent away a hard shot on goal in the 68th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 72 minutes, Ross Francis mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Cranbrook AFC and the Richmond FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. Ross Francis hit a great freekick 72 minutes into the match. In the 77th minute, Shane Coburn left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Cranbrook AFC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. Lance Hedley blasted a shot towards the goal in the 85th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Al Coton having to make a save. Al Coton made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Reuben Beckett in the 87th minute of play. In the 92nd match minute, Cranbrook AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Romeo Clarkson to maneuver through the defense. After 93 played minutes, Richmond FC's Jools Whittingham shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Al Coton came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Richmond FC reached it. Jeers came from both ends of the stadium when the final whistle went. Neither team had looked impressive and the draw seeemd a fair result.