League

Ladysbridge Stadium
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Richard McAaron got the match started through his kick off. In the 3rd minute Brenda Rutherford shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Donall McCollion saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Patton McMichel received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 4th minute. Herne McSteven tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After having played for 6 minutes, Nolen McOliver managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ladysbridge's supporters crossed their fingers, but Nolen McOliver was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. When Patton McMichel came up free with the goalie in the 7th minute, the Ladysbridge 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 Patton McMichel couldn't finish the play. When Dennis McIan fell near the penalty area in the 8th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Knocksquire's protests and gave Dennis McIan a yellow card for diving instead. A collision led to Knocksquire getting a freekick after 8 minutes play. Dennis McIan hit a great ball. After a defensive mix-up in Knocksquire's zone, Cáirbre Sheridan stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Herne McSteven came out of the goal and Cáirbre Sheridan tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Patton McMichel sent away a hard shot on goal in the 14th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A collision led to Ladysbridge getting a freekick after 26 minutes play. Auley McBrandon hit a great ball. In the 27th minute, Arnold Doherty sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Ladysbridge's Donall McCollion didn't even have to move. Herne McSteven took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Patton McMichel, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Patton McMichel's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Herne McSteven read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 44th minute of play. In the 45th minute Dennis McIan shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Donall McCollion saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 47 played minutes Ladysbridge got a freekick which was hit by Keefe McIan. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

Patton McMichel sent away a hard shot on goal in the 56th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The supporters of Knocksquire booed when Ladysbridge was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 58 match minutes in a wonderful position. Binean Barrett didn't get a good kick on the ball. After 65 played minutes Knocksquire got a freekick which was hit by Gill Todd. Herne McSteven didn't succeed to prevent the ball from going into goal when Ladysbridge's Cáirbre Sheridan shot an unexpected shot in the crossbar's under edge and made 1-1 in the ordered_time% minute. If Patton McMichel had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 75th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 77 minutes, Richard McAaron mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Knocksquire and the Ladysbridge players grew even worse after the yellow card. Herne McSteven made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Patton McMichel in the 81st minute of play. In the 83rd match minute, Knocksquire was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Dennis McIan to maneuver through the defense. Knocksquire's Herne McSteven played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cáirbre Sheridan in the 84th minute of play. In the 91st minute Dennis McIan shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Donall McCollion saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Patton McMichel in the 97th minute of play forced Knocksquire's goalkeeper Herne McSteven to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When the referee blew the final whistle, you could see the dissatisfaction in the Ladysbridge players' eyes. They were disappointed they hadn't taken more from the game.