League

Cranbrook Park
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Neil Bridgewater got the match started through his kick off. In the 3rd match minute, Cranbrook was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Brett Murtagh to maneuver through the defense. 5 minutes into the match, Calvin Larham had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Fred Campbell. Admiral William Brown's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Calvin Larham was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-0. Tosh Thompson made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Neil Bridgewater in the 12th minute of play. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Fred Hirst in the 17th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Fred Campbell prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Cranbrook's attack was well implemented in the 19th minute, but when Calvin Larham was about to shoot he didn't get a good hit on the ball and it hit the crossbar and flew over. Goal Kick. The crowd rose to their feet as Fred Hirst kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Fred Campbell. That made the score 2-0 in the 20 minute of play. Fred Campbell came out of the goal in the 27th minute to try and stop a shot by Cranbrook's Calvin Larham. But to his dismay, Calvin Larham quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 3-0. Tosh Thompson made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Neil Bridgewater in the 36th minute of play. Fred Campbell made a fantastic save in the 38th minute, when Calvin Larham sent off a good shot on target. After a rather tough play, Admiral William Brown's Kieran Swallow got a free kick in the 39th minute. In the 40th minute, Seb Winterbottom hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 43 minutes into the match, Admiral William Brown's goalkeeper Fred Campbell had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Calvin Larham. In the 44th minute, Fred Hirst 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. Calvin Larham fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 47th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Fred Campbell having to interfere. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 3-0.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Fred Hirst to make the kick off. In the 64th minute Fred Hirst shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Fred Campbell saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 64 minutes, Kieran Swallow mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Admiral William Brown and the Cranbrook players grew even worse after the yellow card. After a rather tough play, Cranbrook's Fred Hirst got a free kick in the 70th minute. Fred Hirst received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 76th minute. Fred Campbell tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Fred Hirst in the 78th minute of play forced Admiral William Brown's goalkeeper Fred Campbell to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 83 minutes into the match, Admiral William Brown's goal looked a bit too open when Fred Hirst came free, but Fred Campbell reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Duncan Downes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 84th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Calvin Larham sent away a hard shot on goal in the 96th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Cranbrook walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.