League

Iona
Spectators: 8021 (Terracing: 6018, Seating: 1844, VIP seats: 159) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Trevor LaGarde started the match with the kick off. If Justin Lowry had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 3rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Brad Winslow hit a great freekick 9 minutes into the match. After 12 minutes Iona's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Eldridge Beausoleil who took care of the corner kick. Wembley's Courtney Dobbs was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Clément McMullen in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. If Jan Arpin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 17th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Justin Lowry had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 19th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Jan Arpin in the 19th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Damien Hays saved Wembley from getting behind. In the 22nd minute Luigi Oleary shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Clément McMullen saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Clément McMullen made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Trevor LaGarde in the 23rd minute of play. 24 minutes into the game, Donnie Velez was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Iona's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Wembley the free kick. After 24 played minutes Iona got a freekick which was hit by Donnie Velez. Iona's Justin Lowry got a good chance for a goal in the 28th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Damien Hays made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jan Arpin in the 32nd minute of play. Jonah Casey charged in rather forcefully in the 32nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Jonah Casey the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. A collision led to Wembley getting a freekick after 41 minutes play. Jonah Casey hit a great ball. Jan Arpin fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 42nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Damien Hays having to interfere. Clément McMullen made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Trevor LaGarde in the 46th minute of play. In the 47th minute Luigi Oleary shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Clément McMullen saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Jan Arpin to make the kick off. Justin Lowry sent away a hard shot on goal in the 52nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 57th minute, Luigi Oleary 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. Damien Hays showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Justin Lowry, who was totally free with the ball in the 59th minute. Luigi Olearys short, quick shot in the 61stth minute got Clément McMullen to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Justin Lowry received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 64th minute. Damien Hays tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After having played for 69 minutes, Jan Arpin managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Iona's supporters crossed their fingers, but Jan Arpin was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 71 minutes into the match, Iona's Jan Arpin sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Damien Hays narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Clément McMullen was a little too slow when Trevor LaGarde got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 78th minute. The score was now 0-1. Damien Hays showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jan Arpin, who was totally free with the ball in the 81st minute. Clément McMullen took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Trevor LaGarde, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After having played for 91 minutes, Justin Lowry managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Iona's supporters crossed their fingers, but Justin Lowry was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The Wembley supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Wembley would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.