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Match Report
Eau Claire
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26,
Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Cocoa's Jose McNair started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. If Jose McNair had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 11th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a defensive mix-up in Eau Claire's zone, Stewart Bannister stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Abdul Beatty came out of the goal and Stewart Bannister tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 15 minutes into the game, Jose McNair cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Abdul Beatty was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. With a little luck, Cocoa's Mohammad Alford got control of the ball when Jermaine Loyd tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 20th minute, Asher Bravo 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. Jose McNair fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 23rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Abdul Beatty having to interfere. In the 25th match minute, Cocoa was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Asher Bravo to maneuver through the defense. Bronson Ross received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 35th minute. Mohammad Alford tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Bronson Ross had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 42nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. After 46 played minutes, Eau Claire's Jude Arden shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Mohammad Alford 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 Eau Claire reached it. When Jermaine Loyd came up free with the goalie in the 47th minute, the Eau Claire 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 Jermaine Loyd couldn't finish the play. After the first half Cocoa were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.
Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Bronson Ross to make the kick off. After a defensive mix-up in Cocoa's zone, Jermaine Loyd stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Mohammad Alford came out of the goal and Jermaine Loyd tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Homer Nelson received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 58th minute. Mohammad Alford tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Bronson Ross struck a weak shot in the 60th minute. Mohammad Alford didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Eau Claire. In the 63rd match minute, Cocoa was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Eusebio Sims to maneuver through the defense. Abdul Beatty made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jose McNair in the 67th minute of play. After 68 played minutes Eau Claire got a freekick which was hit by Casper Munoz. After some fancy dribbling in the 69th minute, Jose McNair managed to get in a good position for a shot. Cocoa's supporters rose to their feet, but Jose McNair was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Abdul Beatty breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Jose McNair's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Abdul Beatty read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 82nd minute of play. After a rather tough play, Eau Claire's Andre Mattson got a free kick in the 95th minute. When the final whistle was heard the away supporters stood up and showed their joy. Cocoa had managed to secure a win in what was a close match throughout.
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