League

Piqua Stadium
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Reggie Boone kicked off to start the match. Nigel Evans scored 0-1 in the 3rd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Aaron Cutler, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Lane Latham recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 7th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. A collision led to Croydon AFC getting a freekick after 9 minutes play. Johnny Saunders hit a great ball. After some careless play in the Piqua defense, Lane Latham kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Aaron Cutler. The Piqua fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Aaron Cutler should have stopped the shot. Micah Moore recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 13th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Reggie Boone received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Nicky Horton came out and tried to block the shot, but Reggie Boone slotted it home off the left post making it 1-2 in the 15th minute. In the 27th minute, Piqua's Jarod Cardona dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 2-2. Lane Latham's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Aaron Cutler read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 34th minute of play. Aaron Cutler took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nigel Evans, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Lane Latham had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 39th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Lane Latham sent away a hard shot on goal in the 43rd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. After 46 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Croydon AFC! Croydon AFC:s Nicky Horton showed great skill when he stopped Edgar Joyce:s penalty. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Nigel Evans to make the kick off. After having played for 53 minutes, Nigel Evans managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Croydon AFC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Nigel Evans was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After 55 played minutes Piqua got a freekick which was hit by Stevie Clearwater. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Johnny Saunders during the 59th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. If Reggie Boone had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 60th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. After 62 minutes, Oliver Miranda mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Piqua and the Croydon AFC players grew even worse after the yellow card. When the match had been going on for 63 minutes, Croydon AFC's Lucas Wang got an opportunity to shoot a penalty. He stayed cool and waited for the goalkeeper to move, before he confidently shot the ball into the goal, to the left of Aaron Cutler. Nicky Horton showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Micah Moore, who was totally free with the ball in the 67th minute. 69 minutes into the game, Lane Latham cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-4. Aaron Cutler was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. If Nigel Evans had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 72nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 74th minute the ball was on its way in behind Piqua's goalkeeper Aaron Cutler, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Micah Moore in the 77th minute of play forced Croydon AFC's goalkeeper Nicky Horton to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Micah Moore fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 78th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nicky Horton having to interfere. Reggie Boone sent away a hard shot on goal in the 82nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 85 minutes into the match, Reggie Boone notched a goal, 3-4, to the right of Croydon AFC's Nicky Horton. Nicky Horton was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Lucas Wang hit a great freekick 90 minutes into the match. Lane Lathams short, quick shot in the 93rdth minute got Aaron Cutler to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. When Reggie Boone, who was free, got the in front of the goal in the 95 minute he wasn't focused and tipped the ball just over the goal. The Nicky Horton was delighted since the ball would have got in if it had gone under the crossbar. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Reggie Boone in the 100th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Nicky Horton prevented the ball from getting in the gole. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. Croydon AFC walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.