League

Boars Head Park
Spectators: 7545 (Terracing: 5660, Seating: 1735, VIP seats: 150) Granville AFC's J.C. Denne 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. The Granville AFC fans' excitement grew in the 7th match minute when Granville AFC's J.C. Denne looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 0-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. After 12 minutes, Darius Swan mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Grand Rapids FC and the Granville AFC players grew even worse after the yellow card. Darius Swan hit a great freekick 12 minutes into the match. If J.C. Denne had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 13th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Hugo Dawson made a fantastic save in the 18th minute, when Whitney Whitmore sent off a good shot on target. After 19 played minutes Granville AFC got a freekick which was hit by Jerrod Magee. Jonathon Temple made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from J.C. Denne in the 21st minute of play. In the 22nd minute Woody Hickey shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jonathon Temple saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Granville AFC's Jerrod Magee pulled a muscle in his back after 23 minutes and couldn't finish the game. 23 minutes into the game, Esteban Nguyen was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Grand Rapids FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Granville AFC the free kick. In the 24th match minute, Grand Rapids FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Esteban Nguyen to maneuver through the defense. After a rather tough play, Grand Rapids FC's Esteban Nguyen got a free kick in the 31st minute. Woody Hickey kicked well hit freekick during the 32nd minute of the match. The Granville AFC fans' excitement grew in the 37th match minute when Granville AFC's J.C. Denne looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 0-3 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. After a defensive mix-up in Granville AFC's zone, Graig Hughes stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Hugo Dawson came out of the goal and Graig Hughes tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Florian Bass got free with Hugo Dawson in the 47th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After the first half Granville AFC were leading 0-3. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

In the 52nd minute there was a penalty for Granville AFC. Whitney Pennington stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Jonathon Temple. 0-4. After 61 minutes of play, Grand Rapids FC's Esteban Nguyen made it 1-4 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Hugo Dawson was left in no man's land by his defense there! The audience thought a goal was coming when J.C. Denne got free with Jonathon Temple in the 65th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Woody Hickey took the ball and in the 66 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Jonathon Temple. Jonathon Temple dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-5. Jonathon Temple took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Woody Hickey, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 76th minute, Graig Hughes had to be helped off the field due to a pulled leg muscle. After 76 minutes, Winford Joyce mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Granville AFC and the Grand Rapids FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 77 played minutes Granville AFC got a freekick which was hit by Winford Joyce. After 78 played minutes, Grand Rapids FC's Darius Swan shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Hugo Dawson came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Grand Rapids FC reached it. J.C. Denne struck a weak shot in the 84th minute. Jonathon Temple didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Granville AFC. 85 minutes into the match, Grand Rapids FC's goal looked a bit too open when Woody Hickey came free, but Jonathon Temple reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Woody Hickey received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 86th minute. Jonathon Temple tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Woody Hickey got in the 88th a clear chance and fired away a hard shot against goal, but Jonathon Temple handled the situation perfectly and made a save by the crossbar. Esteban Nguyen was shown his second yellow card after 88 minutes, following a rather ugly tackle on opponent. That was the end of his participation in the match. Esteban Nguyen kicked well hit freekick during the 89th minute of the match. Woody Hickey might have been able to make a better finish in the 93rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Jonathon Temple. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Woody Hickey ran back to his position shaking his head. Jonathon Temple showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Woody Hickey in the 95th minute of the match. J.C. Denne could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 98th minute of the match, but Jonathon Temple made a huge save. Granville AFC's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.