League

Garden Grove Park
Spectators: 6735 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1735, VIP seats: 0) Cooperstown AFC's Nathaniel Espinoza 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. Ricardo Sadler came out of the goal in the 3rd minute to try and stop a shot by Cooperstown AFC's Mike Parrish. But to his dismay, Mike Parrish quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. Maurice Link made a fantastic save in the 8th minute, when Monty Carroll sent off a good shot on target. After having played for 15 minutes, Nathaniel Espinoza managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Cooperstown AFC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Nathaniel Espinoza was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Maurice Link stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of George Blum's shot from short distance in the 21st minute. 26 minutes into the match, Cooperstown AFC's goalkeeper Maurice Link had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Monty Carroll. George Blum fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 31st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Maurice Link having to interfere. If Monty Carroll had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 34th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Rodolfo Adair kicked well hit freekick during the 37th minute of the match. Ricardo Sadler made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Mike Parrish in the 39th minute of play. Jermaine Bonilla's late challenge caught a Cooperstown AFC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Jermaine Bonilla helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Cooperstown AFC booed when Alexandria FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 41 match minutes in a wonderful position. Jermaine Bonilla didn't get a good kick on the ball. 42 minutes into the match, Cooperstown AFC's Garry Robertson broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. Monty Carroll sent away a hard shot on goal in the 45th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. George Blum received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 45th minute. Maurice Link tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-1.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. George Blum was the one to do the kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Monty Carroll in the 51st minute of play forced Cooperstown AFC's goalkeeper Maurice Link to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nathaniel Espinoza in the 53rd minute of play forced Alexandria FC's goalkeeper Ricardo Sadler to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When Alexandria FC's Monty Carroll in the 57th minute got a chance for a shot 57th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Cooperstown AFC's goalie prevented a goal. Ricardo Sadler made a fantastic save in the 61st minute, when Mike Parrish sent off a good shot on target. Mike Parrish sent away a hard shot on goal in the 65th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Nathaniel Espinoza's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Ricardo Sadler read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 66th minute of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Mike Parrish got free with Ricardo Sadler in the 70th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 72 minutes into the game, Cooperstown AFC's Mike Parrish nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Ricardo Sadler made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-2. Maurice Link showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from George Blum, who was totally free with the ball in the 77th minute. Nathaniel Espinoza received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 80th minute. Ricardo Sadler tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Rodolfo Adair fell near the penalty area in the 84th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Cooperstown AFC's protests and gave Rodolfo Adair a yellow card for diving instead. After a rather tough play, Cooperstown AFC's Rodolfo Adair got a free kick in the 85th minute. Ricardo Sadler made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nathaniel Espinoza in the 87th minute of play. Mike Parrish charged in rather forcefully in the 88th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Mike Parrish the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Ricardo Sadler was a little too slow when Nathaniel Espinoza got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 91st minute. The score was now 0-3. The Cooperstown AFC supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Cooperstown AFC would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.