League

Annscroft Stadium
Spectators: 7950 (Terracing: 6000, Seating: 1800, VIP seats: 150) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Rudi Birken got the match started through his kick off. Annscroft City's Ben Boyd played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Dennis Lawton in the 3rd minute of play. Rudi Birken fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 10th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ben Boyd having to interfere. Rio Rowett could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 13th minute of the match, but Peter Banks made a huge save. After some fancy dribbling in the 14th minute, Rio Rowett managed to get in a good position for a shot. Annscroft City's supporters rose to their feet, but Rio Rowett was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Peter Banks breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After 17 played minutes Annscroft City got a freekick which was hit by Chip Jones. Dennis Lawton sent away a hard shot on goal in the 18th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rudi Birken in the 20th minute of play forced Annscroft City's goalkeeper Ben Boyd to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When Dennis Lawton came up free with the goalie in the 21st minute, the BELFAST FC 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 Dennis Lawton couldn't finish the play. Rudi Birken fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 23rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ben Boyd having to interfere. After recieving a nice pass, Annscroft City's Matt Neville tried to score from far away in the 25th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. Rudi Birken received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 27th minute. Ben Boyd tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Alan Postolan had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 29th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 32nd minute Bryan Locke shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Peter Banks saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Rudi Birken sent away a hard shot on goal in the 39th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Tommy Goldthorpe hit a great freekick 41 minutes into the match. In the 45th minute Dennis Lawton shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ben Boyd saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a rather tough play, Annscroft City's Sly Elwick got a free kick in the 46th minute.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Bryan Locke to make the kick off. BELFAST FC's Peter Banks played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Bryan Locke in the 52nd minute of play. Christopher Blanchflower kicked well hit freekick during the 53rd minute of the match. Matt Neville took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 54th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Peter Banks. BELFAST FC's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Annscroft City's Ben Boyd proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 59th minute of the match, managed to save Annscroft City from getting a goal against them. In the 63rd minute, Alan Postolan 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. Dennis Lawton received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 64th minute. Ben Boyd tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 69 minutes of play, Annscroft City's Rio Rowett made it 1-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Peter Banks was left in no man's land by his defense there! A collision led to BELFAST FC getting a freekick after 79 minutes play. Christopher Blanchflower hit a great ball. After a rather tough play, Annscroft City's Rio Rowett got a free kick in the 94th minute. BELFAST FC's supporters were dissatisfied at the end of the match because Annscroft City had won, even though BELFAST FC had held more of the ball.