Challenge

Hurst Rec Stadium
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Venezuela's Tomas Illescas 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. In the 8th match minute, Venezuela was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jonathan Venegas to maneuver through the defense. Jonathan Ferrant made a fantastic save in the 10th minute, when Dean Ashton sent off a good shot on target. John-Paul Whittingham received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 17th minute. Jonathan Ferrant tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by John-Paul Whittingham in the 20th minute of play forced Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 24 minutes into the game, Merton Albion FC's Dean Ashton nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Jonathan Ferrant made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-1. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 27th minute of the match, managed to save Venezuela from getting a goal against them. When Venezuela's Tomas Illescas in the 29th minute got a chance for a shot 29th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Merton Albion FC's goalie prevented a goal. 30 minutes into the game, Rigoberto Mina was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Venezuela's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Merton Albion FC the free kick. After 30 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Rigoberto Mina. 31 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Dean Ashton. Laurence Barraclough showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Patricio Costa, who was totally free with the ball in the 32nd minute. If Tomas Illescas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 34th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Tomas Illescas in the 37th minute of play forced Merton Albion FC's goalkeeper Laurence Barraclough to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 39 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Dean Ashton. In the 40th minute, Dean Ashton 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. When Merton Albion FC's Dean Ashton in the 43rd minute got a chance for a shot 43rd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Venezuela's goalie prevented a goal. With a little luck, Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant got control of the ball when Dean Ashton tried to sneak it across the goal line. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 1-1 after a close first half.

When Merton Albion FC's John-Paul Whittingham in the 51st minute got a chance for a shot 51st didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Venezuela's goalie prevented a goal. If Tomas Illescas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 55th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Tomas Illescas came free with the goalkeeper in the 55th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Laurence Barraclough could save by the left post. Patricio Costa blasted a shot towards the goal in the 57th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Laurence Barraclough having to make a save. In the 60th minute, Venezuela's Patricio Costa dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-2. After a rather tough play, Venezuela's Jose Correa got a free kick in the 63rd minute. Merton Albion FC's Zak Bassett managed, thanks to a brazen rush, stole the ball on a throw-in made by Guillermo Mariano in the 68 minute of the game. Venezuela's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Tomas Illescas in the 75th minute. A nice corner shot did that Tomas Illescas got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Laurence Barraclough quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Venezuela's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Tomas Illescas in the 81st minute. Joshua Secada struck a weak shot in the 81st minute. Laurence Barraclough didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Venezuela. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Dean Ashton in the 85th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Jonathan Ferrant saved Venezuela from getting behind. 93 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Dean Ashton came free, but Jonathan Ferrant reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 94 minutes of play, Merton Albion FC's John-Paul Whittingham made it 4-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Jonathan Ferrant was left in no man's land by his defense there! There were very few away supporters still in the ground by the end of the match. Most of them had left early, disgusted by the way their team had been torn apart. Merton Albion FC fully deserved thier win.