Friendly League

Stadio Di Marco
Spectators: 38 (Terracing: 29, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) If Bart Smith had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 3rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Clapham Rovers's Ennio Orsini played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Paul Poate in the 15th minute of play. Wesley Battersby hit a great freekick 16 minutes into the match. 18 minutes into the game, Hugh Kennedy recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Ennio Orsini. Hugh Kennedy showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-0. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cléberson Mendonça in the 24th minute of play forced AFC Chievo Verona's goalkeeper Gürhan Yücel to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 25 minutes, Hugh Kennedy mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the AFC Chievo Verona and the Clapham Rovers players grew even worse after the yellow card. Hugh Kennedy hit a great freekick 26 minutes into the match. Bart Smith fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 28th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ennio Orsini having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Paul Poate in the 29th minute of play forced Clapham Rovers's goalkeeper Ennio Orsini to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If João Francisco Toscano had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 36th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ennio Orsini made an important save on a dangerous shot by Hugh Kennedy in the 38th minute. Alex Gibson received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 41st minute. Gürhan Yücel tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Ennio Orsini showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Marek Hartley, who was totally free with the ball in the 46th minute. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The wind increased when Cléberson Mendonça made the kick off in the second half. Gürhan Yücel made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from João Francisco Toscano in the 53rd minute of play. 55 minutes had been played when some careless play by AFC Chievo Verona's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Gavin Sedgemore was slow to take the kick. During this time Clapham Rovers's players had a chance to rest. After taking down the ball on Clapham Rovers's corner Gavin Sedgemore fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Gürhan Yücel quite easily take care of the ball. Cléberson Mendonça could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 58th minute of the match, but Gürhan Yücel made a huge save. Clapham Rovers were awarded a corner in the 59th minute after AFC Chievo Verona's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Gavin Sedgemore took the corner. 1-3 came through a penalty shot after 66 played minutes, when Clapham Rovers:s João Francisco Toscano calmly waited for AFC Chievo Verona:s goalkeeper to move before he rolled in the ball by the right post. Robert Welch hit a great freekick 70 minutes into the match. Clapham Rovers made a substitution. Jools Holland replaced Cléberson Mendonça. Robert Welch hit a great freekick 71 minutes into the match. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Kasey Griggs during the 78th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 78th minute, Kasey Griggs hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Clapham Rovers's Damien Quinn was substituted for Alex Gibson. After 79 played minutes Clapham Rovers got a freekick which was hit by Kasey Griggs. Gürhan Yücel showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from João Francisco Toscano in the 83rd minute of the match. Ennio Orsini came out of the goal in the 86th minute to try and stop a shot by AFC Chievo Verona's Hugh Kennedy. But to his dismay, Hugh Kennedy quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-3. Ennio Orsini took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Hugh Kennedy, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience thought a goal was coming when Jools Holland got free with Gürhan Yücel in the 90th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. João Francisco Toscano charged in rather forcefully in the 91st minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed João Francisco Toscano the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. João Francisco Toscano kicked well hit freekick during the 91st minute of the match. João Francisco Toscano fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 94th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Gürhan Yücel having to interfere. Ennio Orsini made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Paul Poate in the 96th minute of play. The Clapham Rovers supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Clapham Rovers would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.