League

Hood River Park
Spectators: 7083 (Terracing: 5883, Seating: 1100, VIP seats: 100) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Donnie Herring kicked off to start the match. In the 3rd match minute, Hood River AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jerry Boudreaux to maneuver through the defense. Dustin Shaver took the ball and in the 7 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Danny Tang. Danny Tang 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. After 17 minutes, Ezra Holbrook mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Warrensville Heights and the Hood River AFC players grew even worse after the yellow card. With a little luck, Warrensville Heights's Ward Kruse got control of the ball when Josiah Mims tried to sneak it across the goal line. Graig Swift scored 0-2 in the 22nd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Danny Tang, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. The supporters of Warrensville Heights booed when Hood River AFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 25 match minutes in a wonderful position. Donnie Herring didn't get a good kick on the ball. Marcos Barrera struck a weak shot in the 27th minute. Danny Tang didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Warrensville Heights. Ezra Holbrook blasted a shot towards the goal in the 28th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Danny Tang having to make a save. Hood River AFC's Donnie Herring got a good chance for a goal in the 32nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Ward Kruse showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Donnie Herring in the 34th minute of the match. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Donnie Herring in the 37th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Ward Kruse saved Warrensville Heights from getting behind. In the 38th minute, Graig Swift hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Donnie Herring had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 40th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 46 minutes into the game, Josiah Mims lined in a short shot 1-2 behind a frustrated Ward Kruse. After the first half Warrensville Heights were leading 1-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Ezra Holbrook might have been able to make a better finish in the 53rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Danny Tang. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Ezra Holbrook ran back to his position shaking his head. Danny Tang made an important save on a dangerous shot by Dustin Shaver in the 55th minute. Warrensville Heights's Dustin Shaver got a good chance for a goal in the 63rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After a defensive mix-up in Warrensville Heights's zone, Donnie Herring stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ward Kruse came out of the goal and Donnie Herring tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Dustin Shaver recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 71st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. When Ezra Holbrook came up free with the goalie in the 74th minute, the Warrensville Heights 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 Ezra Holbrook couldn't finish the play. If Donnie Herring had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 77th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 82 minutes into the match, Hood River AFC's Josiah Mims sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Ward Kruse narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After some careless play in the Warrensville Heights defense, Donnie Herring kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Ward Kruse. The Warrensville Heights fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Ward Kruse should have stopped the shot. Hood River AFC's Donnie Herring got a good chance for a goal in the 89th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 91st minute Donnie Herring shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ward Kruse saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Donnie Herring received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 93rd minute. Ward Kruse tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Dustin Shaver sent away a hard shot on goal in the 97th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The teams fought very hard right up to the final whistle. Both sets of players were happy to go away with a draw.