League

Merrima Park
Spectators: 7832 (Terracing: 5979, Seating: 1833, VIP seats: 20) Dribblers FC's Loud Alcock 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. David Pukallus charged in rather forcefully in the 4th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed David Pukallus the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. David Pukallus hit a great freekick 4 minutes into the match. Dakota Ritter blasted a shot towards the goal in the 16th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Bryan Death having to make a save. After some fancy dribbling in the 18th minute, Kane Erwin managed to get in a good position for a shot. Dribblers FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Kane Erwin was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Jason Adamson breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. When Edmund Wayland fell near the penalty area in the 20th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Dribblers FC's protests and gave Edmund Wayland a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Pilbara Palisades booed when Dribblers FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 23 match minutes in a wonderful position. Edmund Wayland didn't get a good kick on the ball. Jason Adamson made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Kane Erwin in the 27th minute of play. Kane Erwin received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 39th minute. Jason Adamson tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 42 minutes into the match, Dribblers FC's goal looked a bit too open when Dakota Ritter came free, but Bryan Death reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Dakota Ritter sent away a hard shot on goal in the 48th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance.

The crowd rose to their feet as Dribblers FC's Kane Erwin slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Jason Adamson. That made the score 0-1 after 55 minutes of play. Bryan Death showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Dakota Ritter, who was totally free with the ball in the 60th minute. When Dakota Ritter came up free with the goalie in the 62nd minute, the Pilbara Palisades 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 Dakota Ritter couldn't finish the play. After 63 minutes of play, Dribblers FC's Kane Erwin made it 0-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Jason Adamson was left in no man's land by his defense there! Burt Kinnaird's late challenge caught a Dribblers FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Burt Kinnaird helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Dribblers FC booed when Pilbara Palisades was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 73 match minutes in a wonderful position. Burt Kinnaird didn't get a good kick on the ball. Dakota Ritter's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Bryan Death read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 76th minute of play. When Dakota Ritter came up free with the goalie in the 87th minute, the Pilbara Palisades 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 Dakota Ritter couldn't finish the play. Jason Adamson made an important save on a dangerous shot by Kane Erwin in the 95th minute. The Dribblers FC supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Dribblers FC would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.