League

Atherton Stadium
Spectators: 6773 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1773, VIP seats: 0) Atherton FC's Jerome Thomason started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Blake Blair made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jerome Thomason in the 5th minute of play. Blake Blair came out of the goal in the 9th minute to try and stop a shot by Atherton FC's Vito Boone. But to his dismay, Vito Boone quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-0. In a very dangerous position, a player in Atherton FC fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 12th minute. Penalty! In the 14th minute there was a penalty for Palm Springs FC. Owen Cornelius stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Dudley Carbajal. 1-1. Dudley Carbajal took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Walter Hernandez, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a rather tough play, Atherton FC's Kurtis Muller got a free kick in the 21st minute. In the 27th minute the ball was on its way in behind Atherton FC's goalkeeper Dudley Carbajal, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Dudley Carbajal showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Dudley McGinnis, who was totally free with the ball in the 36th minute. After 39 minutes, Blair McAlpin mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Palm Springs FC and the Atherton FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to Palm Springs FC getting a freekick after 39 minutes play. Blair McAlpin hit a great ball. Dudley McGinnis might have been able to make a better finish in the 41st minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Dudley Carbajal. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Dudley McGinnis ran back to his position shaking his head. After 44 minutes of play, Atherton FC's Vito Boone made it 2-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Blake Blair was left in no man's land by his defense there! All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Walter Hernandez to make the kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Jerome Thomason in the 54th minute of play forced Palm Springs FC's goalkeeper Blake Blair to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When Diego Yates fell near the penalty area in the 55th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Atherton FC's protests and gave Diego Yates a yellow card for diving instead. Diego Yates hit a great freekick 56 minutes into the match. Dudley McGinnis fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 60th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dudley Carbajal having to interfere. The supporters of Palm Springs FC booed when Atherton FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 65 match minutes in a wonderful position. Derrick Barrera didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Dudley McGinnis had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 69th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Raphael Devine had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 72nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Walter Hernandez fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 78th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dudley Carbajal having to interfere. The audience thought a goal was coming when Dudley McGinnis got free with Dudley Carbajal in the 80th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After 80 played minutes Atherton FC got a freekick which was hit by Derrick Barrera. Dudley McGinnis recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 82nd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Walter Hernandez sent away a hard shot on goal in the 89th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Atherton FC's Dudley Carbajal proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 93rd minute of the match, managed to save Atherton FC from getting a goal against them. After some fancy dribbling in the 95th minute, Dudley McGinnis managed to get in a good position for a shot. Palm Springs FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Dudley McGinnis was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Dudley Carbajal breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Dudley McGinnis 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. Many of Palm Springs FC's supporters were seen to leave the ground early as it became clear their team was going to lose. Palm Springs FC may have spent more time on the ball, but Atherton FC were more willing to take their chances and they walked away with the win.