League

Jamul Park
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Irmo FC's Bryan Arnold 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. Bo Brady charged in rather forcefully in the 4th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Bo Brady the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 4 played minutes Jamul FC got a freekick which was hit by Bo Brady. In the 9th minute Gilbert Kent shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Neil Maher saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Irmo FC's defense didn't have a chance, in the 10th minute, when Pete Edmondson scored to the left of an out of position Royce Hawthorne, making the score, 1-0. After 12 played minutes Irmo FC got a freekick which was hit by Cyrus Joyce. Bob Groves in the 13thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Royce Hawthorne, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Lincoln Cope fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 19th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Neil Maher having to interfere. Neil Maher made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Bryan Arnold in the 23rd minute of play. Irmo FC's defense didn't have a chance, in the 25th minute, when Bob Groves scored to the left of an out of position Royce Hawthorne, making the score, 2-1. Bob Grovess short, quick shot in the 28thth minute got Royce Hawthorne to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. With a little luck, Irmo FC's Royce Hawthorne got control of the ball when Bob Groves tried to sneak it across the goal line. When Lincoln Cope came up free with the goalie in the 35th minute, the Irmo FC 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 Lincoln Cope couldn't finish the play. 37 minutes into the match, Bob Groves dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Royce Hawthorne, 3-1. Bob Groves might have been able to make a better finish in the 40th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Royce Hawthorne. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Bob Groves ran back to his position shaking his head. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 3-1 at half-time.

The audience was convinced that Bob Groves's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Royce Hawthorne was relentless in the 53rd minute of the game. In the 57th minute, Bob Groves ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Royce Hawthorne was frozen by the shot and now it was 5-1. Tad Conley hit a great freekick 61 minutes into the match. When Bob Groves came up free with the goalie in the 63rd minute, the Jamul FC 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 Bob Groves couldn't finish the play. Neil Maher showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Bryan Arnold in the 66th minute of the match. Bob Groves might have been able to make a better finish in the 68th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Royce Hawthorne. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Bob Groves ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 71st minute, Irmo FC's Gilbert Kent ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Neil Maher. Neil Maher yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 5-2. 74 minutes into the match, Jamul FC's goalkeeper Neil Maher had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Gilbert Kent. In the 78th minute Lincoln Cope shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Neil Maher saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. A collision led to Irmo FC getting a freekick after 85 minutes play. Gilbert Kent hit a great ball. Neil Maher made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Bryan Arnold in the 87th minute of play. Bob Groves's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Royce Hawthorne read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 95th minute of play. Jamul FC's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.