League

Beachton Stadium
Spectators: 7500 (Terracing: 5625, Seating: 1725, VIP seats: 150) Beachton's Patrick Haeberle 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. Tom Holdsworth sent away a hard shot on goal in the 6th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a defensive mix-up in Beachton's zone, Tom Holdsworth stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Andy Meyers came out of the goal and Tom Holdsworth tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 12th match minute, Beachton was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Norm Hodgson to maneuver through the defense. In the 13th minute, Myles Dollamore sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Beachton's Andy Meyers didn't even have to move. Bryden Johnson sent away a hard shot on goal in the 15th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After having played for 18 minutes, Carl Huther managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Beachton's supporters crossed their fingers, but Carl Huther was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 30th minute, Buchanan's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Carl Huther fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. Belton Hopkins's late challenge caught a Beachton's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Belton Hopkins helped the player get up and apologised. After 33 played minutes Buchanan got a freekick which was hit by Belton Hopkins. In the 36th minute the ball was on its way in behind Buchanan's goalkeeper Duke Quinane, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. The supporters of Buchanan booed when Beachton was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 38 match minutes in a wonderful position. Max Delbridge didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Buchanan's Bryden Johnson, in the 39th minute, received a pass right in front of the net, it looked like a certain goal, but his shot went outside. A wasted opportunity for Buchanan. A collision led to Buchanan getting a freekick after 43 minutes play. Nash Kile hit a great ball. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 1-0.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Bryden Johnson made a kick off. After having played for 52 minutes, Tom Holdsworth managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Buchanan's supporters crossed their fingers, but Tom Holdsworth was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Buchanan's Bryden Johnson got a good chance for a goal in the 53rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Tom Holdsworth blasted a shot towards the goal in the 56th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Andy Meyers having to make a save. After a defensive mix-up in Beachton's zone, Bryden Johnson stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Andy Meyers came out of the goal and Bryden Johnson tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Carl Huther in the 65th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Duke Quinane saved Buchanan from getting behind. Duke Quinane took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Patrick Haeberle, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. A collision led to Buchanan getting a freekick after 73 minutes play. Belton Hopkins hit a great ball. In the 76th minute Bryden Johnson shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Andy Meyers saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Duke Quinane made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Carl Huther in the 78th minute of play. When Roger Franklin fell near the penalty area in the 79th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Beachton's protests and gave Roger Franklin a yellow card for diving instead. A collision led to Beachton getting a freekick after 79 minutes play. Roger Franklin hit a great ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Tom Holdsworth got free with Andy Meyers in the 85th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Bryden Johnson sent away a hard shot on goal in the 86th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 91 minutes of play, Beachton's Carl Huther made it 2-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Duke Quinane was left in no man's land by his defense there! When Tom Holdsworth came up free with the goalie in the 96th minute, the Buchanan 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 Tom Holdsworth couldn't finish the play.