League

Redcar
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Chuka Ochiagha got the match started through his kick off. In the 4th minute Niyi Ilo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Kent Egwuonwu saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Niyi Ilo received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Kent Egwuonwu came out and tried to block the shot, but Niyi Ilo slotted it home off the left post making it 1-0 in the 7th minute. When Shikoze Akintunde fell near the penalty area in the 11th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Redcar's protests and gave Shikoze Akintunde a yellow card for diving instead. In the 19th minute Chuka Ochiagha shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Shola Sodje saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When Niyi Ilo came up free with the goalie in the 20th minute, the Redcar 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 Niyi Ilo couldn't finish the play. In the 23rd minute, Niyi Ilo 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. In the 24th minute, Chuka Ochiagha ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Shola Sodje was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-1. Isaiah Akpuluma charged in rather forcefully in the 33rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Isaiah Akpuluma the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Redcar's Shola Sodje played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ikem Asechemie in the 40th minute of play. Niyi Ilo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 42nd minute. Kent Egwuonwu tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 2-1.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Niyi Ilo to make the kick off. Niyi Ilo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 53rd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Ikem Asechemie received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Shola Sodje came out and tried to block the shot, but Ikem Asechemie slotted it home off the left post making it 2-2 in the 56th minute. If Ugorji Ezeamama had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 59th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 71 minutes into the game, Bankole Arumona was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Redcar's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Eastham the free kick. Redcar's defense didn't have a chance, in the 72nd minute, when Chuka Ochiagha scored to the left of an out of position Shola Sodje, making the score, 2-3. If Rachidi Uchenna had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 81st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. A collision led to Eastham getting a freekick after 86 minutes play. Ikem Asechemie hit a great ball. Niyi Ilo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 89th minute. Kent Egwuonwu tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In a very dangerous position, a player in Redcar fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 91st minute. Penalty! The referee gave Eastham a penalty, 94 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Oluchi Efangwu, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Redcar's Shola Sodje. 2-4. Eastham were delighted with the way they had won the match. They had held their defensive line well and made the most of their chances, to claim a victory over Redcar's much stronger midfield.