Challenge

Hurst Rec Stadium
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) John-Paul Whittingham made the kick off and thus started the match. After some careless play in the Venezuela defense, Dean Ashton kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Jonathan Ferrant. The Venezuela fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Jonathan Ferrant should have stopped the shot. Patricio Costa fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 10th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Laurence Barraclough having to interfere. Dean Ashton succeeded in the game's 14th minute to shoot an unreachable shot under the crossbar and scored - 2-0. A collision led to Merton Albion FC getting a freekick after 16 minutes play. Dean Ashton hit a great ball. 18 minutes into the match, Dean Ashton dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Jonathan Ferrant, 3-0. After some fancy dribbling in the 23rd minute, Tomas Illescas managed to get in a good position for a shot. Venezuela's supporters rose to their feet, but Tomas Illescas was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Laurence Barraclough breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After 30th play minutes John-Paul Whittingham shot 4-1, a short shot which went by Jonathan Ferrant and just under the crossbar into goal. Jonathan Ferrant took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Dean Ashton, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Jose Correa charged in rather forcefully in the 35th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Jose Correa the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After a rather tough play, Venezuela's Jose Correa got a free kick in the 35th minute. Jonathan Ferrant made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from John-Paul Whittingham in the 37th minute of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 39th minute, Dean Ashton managed to get in a good position for a shot. Merton Albion FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Dean Ashton was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Jonathan Ferrant breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. With a couple of smart ball manuevers John-Paul Whittingham in the 41st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Jonathan Ferrant saved Venezuela from getting behind. Venezuela's goalie Jonathan Ferrant was quick on his feet when Dean Ashton aimed and made a shot towards the top left corner. The goalie picked down the ball without great difficulties. A collision led to Venezuela getting a freekick after 45 minutes play. Patricio Costa hit a great ball. 47 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 48th minute Patricio Costa 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. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 4-1 at half-time.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Tomas Illescas to make the kick off. In the 52nd minute, Dean Ashton left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Merton Albion FC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 5-1. Dean Ashton might have been able to make a better finish in the 54th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Jonathan Ferrant. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Dean Ashton ran back to his position shaking his head. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Dean Ashton in the 55th minute of play. Laurence Barraclough took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Tomas Illescas, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 67 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 68th play minutes Dean Ashton shot 6-1, a short shot which went by Jonathan Ferrant and just under the crossbar into goal. In the 71st minute, Martyn Haines hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 7-1 became the score in the 73rd minute when John-Paul Whittingham elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. A hard shot 76 in the game by Tomas Illescas from a close distance when the talented Laurence Barraclough managed to make a qualified save. Merton Albion FC's players were relieved. An unexpectedly hard shot by Dean Ashton in the 77th minute of play forced Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. John-Paul Whittingham took the ball and in the 78 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Jonathan Ferrant. Jonathan Ferrant dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 8-1. Tomas Illescas's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Laurence Barraclough read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 87th minute of play. Tomas Illescas fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 88th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Laurence Barraclough having to interfere. Jonathan Ferrant made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Dean Ashton in the 96th minute of play. After a rather tough play, Venezuela's Jose Correa got a free kick in the 96th minute. Merton Albion FC walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.