Challenge

Hurst Rec Stadium
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Daniel Zorita kicked off to start the match. If Calum Crittenden had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 3rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. A collision led to Merton Albion FC getting a freekick after 5 minutes play. Zak Bassett hit a great ball. In the 7th minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Laurence Barraclough saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Daniel Zorita in the 11th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Laurence Barraclough saved Merton Albion FC from getting behind. In the 13th match minute, Ecuador was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Agustín Saelices to maneuver through the defense. Laurence Barraclough took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Luis Andino, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Ecuador were awarded a corner in the 17th minute after Merton Albion FC's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Daniel Zorita took the corner. In the 19th minute, Martyn Haines hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. An unexpectedly hard shot by Daniel Zorita in the 20th minute of play forced Merton Albion FC's goalkeeper Laurence Barraclough to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Primitivo Andino made in the 22nd minute of the game a fairly good throw-in which was taken care of by Felix Montenegro. In the 24th minute the ball was on its way in behind Merton Albion FC's goalkeeper Laurence Barraclough, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 25 minutes had been played when some careless play by Merton Albion FC's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Daniel Zorita was slow to take the kick. During this time Ecuador's players had a chance to rest. Felix Montes made a great header on Ecuador's corner, it was just that Merton Albion FC's Laurence Barraclough managed to reach the ball for a save. Ecuador's attack was well implemented in the 25th minute, but when Cristian Sancho was about to shoot he didn't get a good hit on the ball and it hit the crossbar and flew over. Goal Kick. After 27 played minutes Merton Albion FC got a freekick which was hit by Zak Bassett. Julio Vera was out of position in the 29 minute of play, and Dean Ashton capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Dean Ashton really showed his touch with that goal: 1-0. In the 32nd minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Laurence Barraclough saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When Cristian Sancho came up free with the goalie in the 35th minute, the Ecuador 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 Cristian Sancho couldn't finish the play. The audience was convinced that Daniel Zorita's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Laurence Barraclough was relentless in the 37th minute of the game. 38 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Dean Ashton came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Cristian Sancho recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 39th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After 40 played minutes Ecuador got a freekick which was hit by Primitivo Andino. John-Paul Whittingham sent away a hard shot on goal in the 44th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from John-Paul Whittingham, who was totally free with the ball in the 47th minute. Af the end of the first half the score was 1-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Dean Ashton stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from John-Paul Whittingham in the 52nd minute of the match. Merton Albion FC's Laurence Barraclough played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Luis Andino in the 54th minute of play. 57 minutes into the match, Merton Albion FC's goalkeeper Laurence Barraclough had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Cristian Sancho. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from John-Paul Whittingham in the 60th minute of play. A collision led to Ecuador getting a freekick after 63 minutes play. Antonio Arias hit a great ball. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from John-Paul Whittingham, who was totally free with the ball in the 63rd minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Dean Ashton in the 65th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cristian Sancho in the 67th minute of play forced Merton Albion FC's goalkeeper Laurence Barraclough to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a little luck, Merton Albion FC's Laurence Barraclough got control of the ball when Felix Montenegro tried to sneak it across the goal line. The supporters of Ecuador booed when Merton Albion FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 75 match minutes in a wonderful position. Korneliusz Tyskie didn't get a good kick on the ball. Felix Montenegro in the 76thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Laurence Barraclough, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Cristian Sancho took the ball and in the 80 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Laurence Barraclough. Laurence Barraclough dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-1. An unexpected shot in the 85th minute by Daniel Zorita got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. Felix Montenegro could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 86th minute of the match, but Laurence Barraclough made a huge save. In the 91st minute Luis Andino shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Laurence Barraclough saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Korneliusz Tyskie kicked well hit freekick during the 92nd minute of the match. Laurence Barraclough was a little too slow when Daniel Zorita got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 94th minute. The score was now 1-2. Ecuador's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.