League

Balladian Park
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Donncha Cronin made the kick off which started today's match. The audience was convinced that Donncha Cronin's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Donavan McIan was relentless in the 7th minute of the game. In the 12th minute the ball was on its way in behind Ballyline's goalkeeper Brendann McBrand, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. The supporters of Ballyline booed when Balladian Utd was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 13 match minutes in a wonderful position. Barley Branson didn't get a good kick on the ball. Donncha Cronin fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 18th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Donavan McIan having to interfere. Paul McPeter blasted a shot towards the goal in the 20th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Brendann McBrand having to make a save. Barley Branson sent away a hard shot on goal in the 24th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Brendann McBrand showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Timmons Hunt in the 28th minute of the match. In the 31st minute the ball was on its way in behind Balladian Utd's goalkeeper Donavan McIan, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Barley Branson kicked well hit freekick during the 32nd minute of the match. When Paul McPeter came up free with the goalie in the 35th minute, the Balladian Utd 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 Paul McPeter couldn't finish the play. Barley Branson might have been able to make a better finish in the 38th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Brendann McBrand. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Barley Branson ran back to his position shaking his head. Ballyline's Brendann McBrand played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Kain McLiam in the 40th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in Balladian Utd's zone, Donncha Cronin stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Donavan McIan came out of the goal and Donncha Cronin tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Paul McPeter fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 44th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Brendann McBrand having to interfere. In the 46th minute, Bartley Silke hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Donncha Cronin in the 47th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Donavan McIan saved Balladian Utd from getting behind. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Kain McLiam was the one to do the kick off. The audience was convinced that Kain McLiam's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Brendann McBrand was relentless in the 52nd minute of the game. After a rather tough play, Balladian Utd's Barley Branson got a free kick in the 53rd minute. When Timmons Hunt came up free with the goalie in the 56th minute, the Balladian Utd 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 Timmons Hunt couldn't finish the play. Ballyline's Brendann McBrand played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Kain McLiam in the 57th minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Paul McPeter in the 63rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Brendann McBrand saved Ballyline from getting behind. Donavan McIan showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Donncha Cronin, who was totally free with the ball in the 68th minute. In the 70th minute, Barley Branson 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. Barley Branson recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 71st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 73 minutes into the match, Ballyline's goal looked a bit too open when Barley Branson came free, but Brendann McBrand reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In a very dangerous position, a player in Ballyline fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 75th minute. Penalty! In the 83rd minute, Timmons Hunt hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 87 minutes into the match, Ballyline's goal looked a bit too open when Barley Branson came free, but Brendann McBrand reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Paul McPeter in the 88th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Brendann McBrand prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Brendann McBrand took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Paul McPeter, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 94 minutes into the match, Barley Branson had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Brendann McBrand. Ballyline's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Barley Branson was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-0. When the referee ended the match the Balladian Utd players were able to celebrate. They had won a fair victory and recieved the ovations of their fans.