League Play-Off

Arcola Park
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Connor Byrd got the match started through his kick off. Gooners's Johnson Stanton played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Randall Hinkle in the 4th minute of play. After having played for 7 minutes, Ethan Guthrie managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Gooners's supporters crossed their fingers, but Ethan Guthrie was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Odell Mixon during the 8th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After a rather tough play, Arcola Youth Academy's Odell Mixon got a free kick in the 8th minute. Connor Byrd received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 9th minute. Rodrigo Magee tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Rodrigo Magee made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Connor Byrd in the 12th minute of play. Edward Ruffin hit a great freekick 16 minutes into the match. Lamar Winslow succeeded in the game's 17th minute to get real power on a long shot . Arcola Youth Academy's Rodrigo Magee hadn't the time to block the shot which was pasted into the goal, 0-1! Rodrigo Magee made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Dudley Ferris in the 22nd minute of play. Connor Byrd fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 23rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rodrigo Magee having to interfere. 25 minutes into the game, Randall Hinkle recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Johnson Stanton. Randall Hinkle showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-1. After 29 minutes, Isidro Couch mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Arcola Youth Academy and the Gooners players grew even worse after the yellow card. 28 minutes into the game, one of Arcola Youth Academy:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. Lamar Winslow shot the penalty kick by force right in the crossbar. No goal. After 36 played minutes Gooners got a freekick which was hit by Preston Willard. A hard shot 37 in the game by Sean Lamb from a close distance when the talented Johnson Stanton managed to make a qualified save. Gooners's players were relieved. Gooners's Johnson Stanton proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 42nd minute of the match, managed to save Gooners from getting a goal against them. Randall Hinkle's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Johnson Stanton read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 46th minute of play. When Ethan Guthrie came up free with the goalie in the 47th minute, the Gooners 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 Ethan Guthrie couldn't finish the play. 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 Randall Hinkle to make the kick off. Randall Hinkle sent away a hard shot on goal in the 52nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Gooners's Ethan Guthrie got a good chance for a goal in the 56th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 57th minute Connor Byrd shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rodrigo Magee saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Johnson Stanton showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Randall Hinkle in the 64th minute of the match. 83 minutes into the game, Arcola Youth Academy's Randall Hinkle nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Johnson Stanton made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-1. After some fancy dribbling in the 89th minute, Randall Hinkle managed to get in a good position for a shot. Arcola Youth Academy's supporters rose to their feet, but Randall Hinkle was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Johnson Stanton breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 93rd minute Randall Hinkle shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Johnson Stanton saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Rodrigo Magee made a fantastic save in the 95th minute, when Ethan Guthrie sent off a good shot on target.