League

Croydon Park
Spectators: 7985 (Terracing: 5990, Seating: 1836, VIP seats: 159) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Jess Hinkle kicked off to start the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Jackson McGrath in the 3rd minute of play forced Vice Croydon AFC's goalkeeper Mark Watt to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Mark Watt made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Shawn Diamond in the 4th minute of play. If Jess Hinkle had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 7th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. 8 minutes into the match, Vice Croydon AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Cobi Wray came free, but Mark Watt reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 9th match minute, Vice Croydon AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Mckinley Crenshaw to maneuver through the defense. After some fancy dribbling in the 19th minute, Kent Patrick managed to get in a good position for a shot. Vice Croydon AFC's supporters rose to their feet, but Kent Patrick was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Alex Pearson breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Mckinley Crenshaw hit a great freekick 22 minutes into the match. Mark Watt took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cobi Wray, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Mark Watt took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Arnoldo Stahl, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Kent Patrick recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 28th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After 29 minutes of play, Brainerd FC's Cobi Wray made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Mark Watt was left in no man's land by his defense there! If Shawn Diamond had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 33rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Arnoldo Stahl to make the kick off. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Jess Hinkle in the 52nd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Alex Pearson saved Brainerd FC from getting behind. Kurt Esposito's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Alex Pearson read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 55th minute of play. Alex Pearson came out of the goal in the 60th minute to try and stop a shot by Vice Croydon AFC's Kent Patrick. But to his dismay, Kent Patrick quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-1. Kurt Esposito sent away a hard shot on goal in the 64th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Kurt Esposito's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Alex Pearson read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 66th minute of play. A nice corner shot did that Joey Ryder got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Alex Pearson quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. If Kent Patrick had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 69th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jackson McGrath's late challenge caught a Vice Croydon AFC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Jackson McGrath helped the player get up and apologised. Brainerd FC's Alex Pearson played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jess Hinkle in the 75th minute of play. In the 86th minute Jackson McGrath shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Mark Watt saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Vice Croydon AFC's Mark Watt proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 88th minute of the match, managed to save Vice Croydon AFC from getting a goal against them. Brainerd FC's Alex Pearson played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jess Hinkle in the 91st minute of play. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Brainerd FC eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.