League

Strood Park
Spectators: 6730 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1730, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Nicholas Eslworth took the kick off in the first half of the match. Nicholas Eslworth fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 3rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Duncan Saunders having to interfere. In the 5th minute, Nicholas Eslworth 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. A collision led to Onidek getting a freekick after 7 minutes play. Bradley Whitford hit a great ball. If Eric Blackwater had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 18th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jerry Furlong fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 19th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Mickey Elding having to interfere. Joe Craven sent away a hard shot on goal in the 22nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Jerry Furlong sent away a hard shot on goal in the 23rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Jerry Furlong fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 26th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Mickey Elding having to interfere. Jerry Furlong struck a weak shot in the 28th minute. Mickey Elding didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Onidek. If Nicholas Eslworth had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 36th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 38 played minutes Nicholas Eslworth rounded Onidek's defense and shot a beautiful shot into goal via left pole - 1-0. Joe Craven took the ball and in the 42 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Mickey Elding. Mickey Elding dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-1. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Joe Craven to strike the kick off in the second half. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nicholas Eslworth in the 51st minute of play forced Onidek's goalkeeper Duncan Saunders to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Luke Young kicked well hit freekick during the 52nd minute of the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Jerry Furlong got free with Mickey Elding in the 53rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. If Eric Blackwater had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 55th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Nicholas Eslworth sent away a hard shot on goal in the 57th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Joe Craven received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 60th minute. Mickey Elding tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 65 minutes into the game, Romeo Best was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Onidek's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Strood AFC the free kick. Romeo Best hit a great freekick 65 minutes into the match. When Eric Blackwater came up free with the goalie in the 69th minute, the Strood 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 Eric Blackwater couldn't finish the play. Duncan Saunders made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nicholas Eslworth in the 70th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Eric Blackwater in the 71st minute of play forced Onidek's goalkeeper Duncan Saunders to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 73rd minute, Buster Cross 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nicholas Eslworth in the 75th minute of play forced Onidek's goalkeeper Duncan Saunders to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Joe Craven's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Mickey Elding read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 77th minute of play. 78 minutes into the game, Jerry Furlong lined in a short shot 1-2 behind a frustrated Mickey Elding. Duncan Saunders showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Nicholas Eslworth, who was totally free with the ball in the 82nd minute. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Allan Steadman during the 82nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. When Ivan Clement fell near the penalty area in the 87th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Onidek's protests and gave Ivan Clement a yellow card for diving instead. After a rather tough play, Onidek's Ivan Clement got a free kick in the 87th minute. After having played for 91 minutes, Eric Blackwater managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Strood AFC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Eric Blackwater was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Although Strood AFC had been in control for most of the match, Onidek still came away with the win.