League

Canvey Island
Spectators: 8439 (Terracing: 6542, Seating: 1875, VIP seats: 22) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Keith Rushforth got the match started through his kick off. Ollie Sawyer kicked well hit freekick during the 2nd minute of the match. In the 3rd minute Keith Rushforth shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Mattias Mayo saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 5th minute the ball was on its way in behind Walter's goalkeeper Mattias Mayo, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 10 minutes into the match, Fitz Pointon notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of Walter's Mattias Mayo. Mattias Mayo was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Tom Wright hit a great freekick 13 minutes into the match. Keith Rushforth fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 17th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Mattias Mayo having to interfere. In the 22nd minute the ball was on its way in behind Walter's goalkeeper Mattias Mayo, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 24 minutes into the match, Willenhall City's Keith Rushforth sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Mattias Mayo narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Fitz Pointon received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 29th minute. Mattias Mayo tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Keith Rushforth sent away a hard shot on goal in the 31st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Fitz Pointon in the 33rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Mattias Mayo prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 35 minutes into the match, Walter's goal looked a bit too open when Fitz Pointon came free, but Mattias Mayo reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Mattias Mayo showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Keith Rushforth in the 37th minute of the match. Daryl Baker took the ball and in the 40 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Dion Kirkpatrick. Dion Kirkpatrick dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-1. Walter's Mattias Mayo played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Keith Rushforth in the 45th minute of play. Fitz Pointon received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 50th minute. Mattias Mayo tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 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 hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Daryl Baker to strike the kick off in the second half. If Fitz Pointon had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 57th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The audience thought a goal was coming when Keith Rushforth got free with Mattias Mayo in the 62nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 64 minutes into the game, Willenhall City's Fitz Pointon nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Mattias Mayo made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-2. The audience was convinced that Keith Rushforth's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Mattias Mayo was relentless in the 79th minute of the game. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Daryl Baker in the 82nd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Dion Kirkpatrick prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After a rather tough play, Willenhall City's Tom Wright got a free kick in the 83rd minute. Mattias Mayo made a fantastic save in the 86th minute, when Fitz Pointon sent off a good shot on target. Daryl Baker sent away a hard shot on goal in the 89th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. In the 95th minute, Ash Wooding 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. The Willenhall City supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Willenhall City would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.