League

Esk Park
Spectators: 6834 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1834, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Charles Snabl got the match started through his kick off. Kane Freeman's late challenge caught a Backpacker FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Kane Freeman helped the player get up and apologised. In the 3rd minute, Kane Freeman hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Burt Houldsworth came out of the goal in the 9th minute to try and stop a shot by Backpacker FC's Justin Hunn. But to his dismay, Justin Hunn quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. The supporters of Esk booed when Backpacker FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 12 match minutes in a wonderful position. Kane Hardiman didn't get a good kick on the ball. With a little luck, Backpacker FC's Kris Brophy got control of the ball when Barney Kennewell tried to sneak it across the goal line. Esk's Charles Snabl got a good chance for a goal in the 27th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Burt Houldsworth showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Justin Hunn in the 32nd minute of the match. If Downing Heathwood had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 39th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Backpacker FC's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Bernard Sennett in the 44th minute. In the 48th minute, Downing Heathwood 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. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 1-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Justin Hunn to make the kick off. Downing Heathwood could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 53rd minute of the match, but Burt Houldsworth made a huge save. In the 54th play minute Downing Heathwood came free and shot an unsuspected shot which went into goal from the right pole behind a surprised Burt Houldsworth. 1-3. Justin Hunn fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 58th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Burt Houldsworth having to interfere. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Rusty Brandie during the 62nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 62 played minutes Esk got a freekick which was hit by Rusty Brandie. If Downing Heathwood had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 63rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Burt Houldsworth showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Justin Hunn in the 66th minute of the match. Kane Hardiman hit a great freekick 73 minutes into the match. If Charles Snabl had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 82nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. With a little luck, Esk's Burt Houldsworth got control of the ball when Downing Heathwood tried to sneak it across the goal line. Downing Heathwood sent away a hard shot on goal in the 87th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 89th match minute, Backpacker FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Brye Coburn to maneuver through the defense. After some fancy dribbling in the 91st minute, Barney Kennewell managed to get in a good position for a shot. Esk's supporters rose to their feet, but Barney Kennewell was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Kris Brophy breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The Backpacker FC supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Backpacker FC would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.