National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Nathan Murray started the match with the kick off. 5 minutes into the match, Northern Ireland's goal looked a bit too open when Stanislav Búlgarov came free, but Ray Folwill reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ray Folwill took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Marko Ruskov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Ray Folwill showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Stanislav Búlgarov, who was totally free with the ball in the 9th minute. 10 minutes into the game, Nathan Murray cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-0. Vitomir Starokin was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Northern Ireland's Ray Folwill played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Stanislav Búlgarov in the 17th minute of play. After having played for 19 minutes, Bryan Hodgson managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Northern Ireland's supporters crossed their fingers, but Bryan Hodgson was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 22nd match minute, Bulgaria was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ilko Hindalov to maneuver through the defense. In the 25th minute Stanislav Búlgarov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ray Folwill saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The supporters of Bulgaria booed when Northern Ireland was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 31 match minutes in a wonderful position. Joey England didn't get a good kick on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Stanislav Búlgarov in the 34th minute of play forced Northern Ireland's goalkeeper Ray Folwill to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 35 minutes into the match, Bulgaria's goal looked a bit too open when Nathan Murray came free, but Vitomir Starokin reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a rather tough play, Northern Ireland's Lloyd Mumford got a free kick in the 43rd minute. After 45 played minutes, Bulgaria's Elin Popovski shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Ray Folwill 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 Bulgaria reached it. Vitomir Starokin stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Nathan Murray's shot from short distance in the 46th minute. Ray Folwill showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Marko Ruskov in the 47th minute of the match.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Stanislav Búlgarov made a kick off. After a rather tough play, Northern Ireland's Dylan Browne got a free kick in the 52nd minute. Ray Folwill was in exellent shape and made a fantastic save when he, in the 53rd minute of the match, managed to get hold of the ball after a long shot from Stanislav Búlgarov. 54 minutes into the match, Bulgaria's goal looked a bit too open when Bryan Hodgson came free, but Vitomir Starokin reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ray Folwill made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Marko Ruskov in the 67th minute of play. Stanislav Búlgarov's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Ray Folwill read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 69th minute of play. Bulgaria made a substitution. Parvan Dakelov replaced Marko Ruskov. In the 81st minute Northern Ireland were awarded a corner. Dylan Browne went to the cornerflag to take it. When the match had gone on for 85 minutes, Parvan Dakelov took a quick shot and it went in 1-2 without a chance for Ray Folwill to make any attempt to save it. Lloyd Mumford kicked well hit freekick during the 88th minute of the match. 89 minutes into the match, Northern Ireland's goalkeeper Ray Folwill had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Stanislav Búlgarov. The audience thought a goal was coming when Stanislav Búlgarov got free with Ray Folwill in the 90th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Ray Folwill made a fantastic save in the 92nd minute, when Stanislav Búlgarov sent off a good shot on target. An unexpectedly hard shot by Stuart Banks in the 93rd minute of play forced Bulgaria's goalkeeper Vitomir Starokin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Northern Ireland's Ray Folwill proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 94th minute of the match, managed to save Northern Ireland from getting a goal against them. In the 95th minute Stuart Banks shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Vitomir Starokin saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line.