World League

Magpie Stadium
Spectators: 7469 (Terracing: 5603, Seating: 1717, VIP seats: 149) Ernesto Minichiello made the kick off and thus started the match. After 3 played minutes Elderslie Magpies got a freekick which was hit by Steven Chaptal. Rick Souness received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 7th minute. Armando Polidori tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. With a little luck, XMAS's Armando Polidori got control of the ball when Steven Chaptal tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 11th minute Neal Weatherby shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Armando Polidori saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 13th minute Neal Weatherby shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Armando Polidori saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 14th minute Elderslie Magpies were awarded a corner. Rick Souness went to the cornerflag to take it. If Neal Weatherby had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 15th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Armando Polidori made an important save on a dangerous shot by Steven Chaptal in the 20th minute. With a little luck, XMAS's Armando Polidori got control of the ball when Steven Chaptal tried to sneak it across the goal line. When Neal Weatherby fell near the penalty area in the 25th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Elderslie Magpies's protests and gave Neal Weatherby a yellow card for diving instead. In the 25th minute, Neal Weatherby hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Christian Kerville stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Ernesto Minichiello's shot from short distance in the 26th minute. Armando Polidori made a fantastic save in the 34th minute, when Steven Chaptal sent off a good shot on target. 35 minutes into the match, XMAS's goal looked a bit too open when Neal Weatherby came free, but Armando Polidori reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 37th minute Elderslie Magpies were awarded a corner. Rick Souness went to the cornerflag to take it. Elderslie Magpies's Rick Souness was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Armando Polidori in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. After having played for 39 minutes, Steven Chaptal managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Elderslie Magpies's supporters crossed their fingers, but Steven Chaptal was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 43 minutes into the match, Elderslie Magpies's goal looked a bit too open when Ernesto Minichiello came free, but Christian Kerville reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When Alberigo Gianfrancesco came up free with the goalie in the 44th minute, the XMAS 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 Alberigo Gianfrancesco couldn't finish the play. Bianco Celli hit a great freekick 47 minutes into the match. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Neal Weatherby to make the kick off. 59 minutes into the match, Neal Weatherby had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Armando Polidori. XMAS's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Neal Weatherby was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-0. Ernesto Minichiello could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 63rd minute of the match, but Christian Kerville made a huge save. After a rather tough play, Elderslie Magpies's Steven Chaptal got a free kick in the 64th minute. When Ernesto Minichiello came up free with the goalie in the 66th minute, the XMAS 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 Ernesto Minichiello couldn't finish the play. Sam Mccartan kicked well hit freekick during the 70th minute of the match. Armando Polidori showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Neal Weatherby in the 74th minute of the match. 77 minutes into the match, Elderslie Magpies's goal looked a bit too open when Ennio De Nardis came free, but Christian Kerville reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 89th minute, Steven Chaptal left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Elderslie Magpies fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 2-0. Armando Polidori made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Neal Weatherby in the 94th minute of play. Elderslie Magpies's supporters were highly satisfied with the result. They cheered their team of the pitch, having watched them win a very even match.