League

Stokesdale Stadium
Spectators: 6907 (Terracing: 5200, Seating: 1697, VIP seats: 10) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Sydney Gallagher kicked off to start the match. In the 3rd minute Lance Vance shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Derick Swartz saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Alan McLeod 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. 13 minutes into the game, Neil Brandon was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Big Spring FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Stokesdale FC the free kick. In the 13th minute, Neil Brandon hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Derick Swartz showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lance Vance in the 15th minute of the match. With his leg Derick Swartz managed to avoid a goal in the 17thth minute, when Stokesdale FC's Alan McLeod fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Alan McLeod who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 19thth minute tested the skills of Derick Swartz when he managed to save the team from getting behind. The audience was convinced that Lance Vance's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Derick Swartz was relentless in the 22nd minute of the game. Anton Driver came out of the goal in the 26th minute to try and stop a shot by Big Spring FC's Danny Mims. But to his dismay, Danny Mims quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. If Lance Vance had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 30th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Danny Mims's late challenge caught a Stokesdale FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Danny Mims helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, Big Spring FC's Neil Brandon got a free kick in the 33rd minute. Billy Oakley succeeded in the game's 34th minute to get real power on a long shot . Big Spring FC's Derick Swartz hadn't the time to block the shot which was pasted into the goal, 1-1! Alan McLeod fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 38th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Derick Swartz having to interfere. Lance Vance sent away a hard shot on goal in the 41st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 43rd minute, Tony Phipps got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. 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 Lance Vance to make the kick off. Anton Driver made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Sydney Gallagher in the 56th minute of play. Alan McLeod received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 59th minute. Derick Swartz tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Derick Swartz took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lance Vance, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 68 minutes of play Big Spring FC's Neil Brandon was too eager in his attempt to stop his opponent and brought him down. With that he got his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. After 68 played minutes Big Spring FC got a freekick which was hit by Neil Brandon. Alan McLeod struck a weak shot in the 70th minute. Derick Swartz didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Stokesdale FC. Derick Swartz stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Lance Vance's shot from short distance in the 72nd minute. Big Spring FC's Derick Swartz played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lance Vance in the 78th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alan McLeod in the 79th minute of play forced Big Spring FC's goalkeeper Derick Swartz to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Sean Stout had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 81st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Derick Swartz showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Lance Vance, who was totally free with the ball in the 85th minute. Derick Swartz showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alan McLeod, who was totally free with the ball in the 86th minute. Derick Swartz took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alan McLeod, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 90th minute the ball was on its way in behind Big Spring FC's goalkeeper Derick Swartz, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Derick Swartz showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Lance Vance, who was totally free with the ball in the 95th minute. During the 96th minute of the match Danny Mims completely mistimed his tackle and brought down his opponent. The referee gave Danny Mims a yellow card, his second in the match, which meant he could no longer take part in the game. Danny Mims hit a great freekick 97 minutes into the match.