League

Whitwell Park
Spectators: 5003 (Terracing: 4001, Seating: 1001, VIP seats: 1) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Vinnie West took the kick off in the first half of the match. If Bruce Snowden had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 4th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 8 minutes into the match, Bruce Snowden notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of Whitwell's Verne Abbotts. Verne Abbotts was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Barney Beckett fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 13th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Verne Abbotts having to interfere. Denny Titmuss showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Vinnie West in the 22nd minute of the match. Bruce Snowden might have been able to make a better finish in the 23rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Verne Abbotts. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Bruce Snowden ran back to his position shaking his head. Denny Titmuss showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Vinnie West, who was totally free with the ball in the 27th minute. With 30 minutes on the clock, Kurt Purkiss commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. In the 40th minute Bruce Snowden shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Verne Abbotts saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Verne Abbotts showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Barney Beckett in the 43rd minute of the match. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Bruce Snowden to strike the kick off in the second half. After 51 minutes of play, Leiston United's Barney Beckett made it 0-3 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Verne Abbotts was left in no man's land by his defense there! If Barney Beckett had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 58th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Verne Abbotts came out of the goal in the 62nd minute to try and stop a shot by Leiston United's Barney Beckett. But to his dismay, Barney Beckett quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-4. Junior Kearney kicked well hit freekick during the 73rd minute of the match. Verne Abbotts took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Bruce Snowden, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a defensive mix-up in Whitwell's zone, Bruce Snowden stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Verne Abbotts came out of the goal and Bruce Snowden tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Bruce Snowden sent away a hard shot on goal in the 84th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Bruce Snowden's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Verne Abbotts read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 89th minute of play. Whitwell's Verne Abbotts proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 91st minute of the match, managed to save Whitwell from getting a goal against them. Denny Titmuss showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Francis Sykes in the 94th minute of the match.