League

Basil Hippodrone
Spectators: 7412 (Terracing: 5812, Seating: 1500, VIP seats: 100) Phillip Dietz fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 6th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Vern Chapman having to interfere. Rory Carrington recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 9th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Freddy Barton made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ken Forrest in the 10th minute of play. Freddy Barton made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Rory Carrington in the 16th minute of play. After 17 minutes, Alberto Hodges mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Byzantium AFC and the SL FIRES players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of SL FIRES booed when Byzantium AFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 17 match minutes in a wonderful position. Alberto Hodges didn't get a good kick on the ball. Ken Forrest took the ball and in the 20 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Freddy Barton. Freddy Barton dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. Forrest Swift charged in rather forcefully in the 25th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Forrest Swift the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After a rather tough play, SL FIRES's Forrest Swift got a free kick in the 26th minute. Vern Chapman showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Graig Gamble in the 28th minute of the match. Forrest Swift got his second yellow card in the match during the 30th minute which meant that he had to leave the ground. After 31 played minutes SL FIRES got a freekick which was hit by Forrest Swift. Phillip Dietz sent away a hard shot on goal in the 32nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After having played for 39 minutes, Ken Forrest managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. SL FIRES's supporters crossed their fingers, but Ken Forrest was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Stanford Albright's late challenge caught a Byzantium AFC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Stanford Albright helped the player get up and apologised. Stanford Albright hit a great freekick 44 minutes into the match. Vern Chapman took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Graig Gamble, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The wind increased when Graig Gamble made the kick off in the second half. The audience was convinced that Phillip Dietz's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Vern Chapman was relentless in the 53rd minute of the game. Shawn Stout kicked well hit freekick during the 60th minute of the match. 61 minutes into the match, Byzantium AFC's goalkeeper Freddy Barton had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Ken Forrest. Vern Chapman showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Graig Gamble, who was totally free with the ball in the 67th minute. When Stanford Albright was, once again, overly rough in his play he received his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. 67 minutes had been played. Stanford Albright hit a great freekick 68 minutes into the match. Phillip Dietz's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Vern Chapman read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 71st minute of play. In the 74th minute, Graig Gamble 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 76th minute Phillip Dietz shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Vern Chapman saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 77th minute, Ken Forrest hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. When Phillip Dietz came up free with the goalie in the 81st minute, the Byzantium 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 Phillip Dietz couldn't finish the play. In the 82nd match minute, Byzantium AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Shawn Stout to maneuver through the defense. Rory Carrington hit a great freekick 88 minutes into the match. If Phillip Dietz had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 89th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Graig Gamble had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 91st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Graig Gamble in the 96th minute of play forced SL FIRES's goalkeeper Vern Chapman to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The SL FIRES supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing SL FIRES would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.