League

Sawbridgeworth
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Cleobury Mortimer AFC's Jero Akande Ajide started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Cleobury Mortimer AFC's Innocent Akanni proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 5th minute of the match, managed to save Cleobury Mortimer AFC from getting a goal against them. Mbadiwe Okonkwo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 9th minute. Innocent Akanni tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 11 minutes into the match, Sawbridgeworth AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Jero Akande Ajide came free, but Ete Charlie Affe reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Innocent Akanni took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Mbadiwe Okonkwo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 15 played minutes Cleobury Mortimer AFC got a freekick which was hit by Amaechi Bunu. After having played for 22 minutes, Mbadiwe Okonkwo managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Sawbridgeworth AFC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Mbadiwe Okonkwo was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Ete Charlie Affe made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jero Akande Ajide in the 24th minute of play. With his leg Innocent Akanni managed to avoid a goal in the 32ndth minute, when Sawbridgeworth AFC's Sampson Oyeoku fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Cleobury Mortimer AFC's defense didn't have a chance, in the 33rd minute, when Mbadiwe Okonkwo scored to the left of an out of position Innocent Akanni, making the score, 1-0. When Thompson Amusan fell near the penalty area in the 35th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Sawbridgeworth AFC's protests and gave Thompson Amusan a yellow card for diving instead. In the 36th minute, Thompson Amusan hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 38th minute, Chienezie Adeduntan 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. If Sampson Oyeoku had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 41st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. When Sampson Oyeoku came up free with the goalie in the 44th minute, the Sawbridgeworth 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 Sampson Oyeoku couldn't finish the play. Sampson Oyeoku sent away a hard shot on goal in the 46th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Mbadiwe Okonkwo to strike the kick off in the second half. In the 53rd minute Jero Akande Ajide shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ete Charlie Affe saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 55th minute the ball was on its way in behind Cleobury Mortimer AFC's goalkeeper Innocent Akanni, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Amaechi Bunu's late challenge caught a Sawbridgeworth AFC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Amaechi Bunu helped the player get up and apologised. In the 56th match minute, Cleobury Mortimer AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Amaechi Bunu to maneuver through the defense. Innocent Akanni showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Sampson Oyeoku, who was totally free with the ball in the 60th minute. After a defensive mix-up in Sawbridgeworth AFC's zone, Jero Akande Ajide stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ete Charlie Affe came out of the goal and Jero Akande Ajide tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Innocent Akanni made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Sampson Oyeoku in the 67th minute of play. In the 71st minute, Sampson Oyeoku 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. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Sampson Oyeoku in the 76th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Innocent Akanni prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After some fancy dribbling in the 82nd minute, Mbadiwe Okonkwo managed to get in a good position for a shot. Sawbridgeworth AFC's supporters rose to their feet, but Mbadiwe Okonkwo was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Innocent Akanni breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. If Sampson Oyeoku had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 84th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Cleobury Mortimer AFC's Innocent Akanni played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mbadiwe Okonkwo in the 87th minute of play. 90 minutes into the game, Sampson Oyeoku cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-0. Innocent Akanni was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The Sawbridgeworth AFC fans cheered their team off the field, for while Cleobury Mortimer AFC had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.