League

St.Clair Stadium
Spectators: 7524 (Terracing: 5644, Seating: 1730, VIP seats: 150) St.Clair FC's Luciano Vogel 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. Leland Benton made an important save on a dangerous shot by Luciano Vogel in the 4th minute. The attack was good, but when Luciano Vogel in the 7th minute was about to shoot he didn't kick quite good enough and the ball went high over goal. The supporters of Dos Palos booed when St.Clair FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 8 match minutes in a wonderful position. Austin Abraham didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Alexander Cormier came up free with the goalie in the 14th minute, the St.Clair 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 Alexander Cormier couldn't finish the play. St.Clair FC's Jude Reed got a good chance for a goal in the 18th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Luciano Vogel received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 22nd minute. Leland Benton tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Dos Palos's Leland Benton played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jude Reed in the 30th minute of play. St.Clair FC were awarded a corner in the 31th minute after Dos Palos's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Iwo Pietrowiak took the corner. St.Clair FC's Iwo Pietrowiak was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Leland Benton in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. The St.Clair FC fans' excitement grew in the 36th match minute when St.Clair FC's Dan Richard 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 1-0 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Luciano Vogel blasted a shot towards the goal in the 42nd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Leland Benton having to make a save. Luciano Vogel fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 46th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Leland Benton having to interfere. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 1-0.

If Luciano Vogel had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 57th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Dan Richard might have been able to make a better finish in the 61st minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Leland Benton. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Dan Richard ran back to his position shaking his head. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luciano Vogel in the 65th minute of play forced Dos Palos's goalkeeper Leland Benton to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Leland Benton showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Luciano Vogel in the 72nd minute of the match. Leland Benton made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Luciano Vogel in the 74th minute of play. Luciano Vogel sent away a hard shot on goal in the 75th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 85 minutes into the match, Dos Palos's goal looked a bit too open when Luciano Vogel came free, but Leland Benton reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Mervin Denne's late challenge caught a St.Clair FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Mervin Denne helped the player get up and apologised. In the 87th minute, Mervin Denne hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Luciano Vogel struck a weak shot in the 89th minute. Leland Benton didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for St.Clair FC. In the 93rd minute Luciano Vogel shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Leland Benton saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Dan Richard in the 94th minute of play forced Dos Palos's goalkeeper Leland Benton to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Bern Howie showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Bobby Swanson in the 96th minute of the match. St.Clair FC walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.