League

Grove
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Michael Rishton started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Grove's Barney Muller played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Clark Rafferty in the 6th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Adam Loch in the 15th minute of play forced Japoonvale's goalkeeper Jesse Rennie to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Michael Rishton in the 16th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Jesse Rennie saved Japoonvale from getting behind. Clark Rafferty received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 19th minute. Barney Muller tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Michael Rishton had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 23rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Bern Baptiste had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 26th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Barney Muller took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Bern Baptiste, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Michael Rishton in the 31st minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Jesse Rennie prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Barney Muller didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Clark Rafferty went, in the 45th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. After the first half Japoonvale were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Grove's Michael Rishton suffered a sore thigh after 51 minutes and couldn't finish the game. After 52 played minutes Japoonvale got a freekick which was hit by Boyce Minter. Clark Rafferty received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 56th minute. Barney Muller tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 58th minute the ball was on its way in behind Grove's goalkeeper Barney Muller, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Bern Baptiste could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 59th minute of the match, but Barney Muller made a huge save. In the 60th minute Clark Rafferty shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Barney Muller saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Adolph Slattery kicked well hit freekick during the 61st minute of the match. Clark Rafferty fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 64th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Barney Muller having to interfere. Laurence Mewburn kicked well hit freekick during the 69th minute of the match. Barney Muller showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gregory Garing in the 70th minute of the match. When Clark Rafferty got free in front of the goal in the 74th minute he wasn't very focused and chipped the ball just over the goal. Barney Muller was delighted since he was out of position and the ball would have got in if it had gone under the crossbar. Brand Howard's late challenge caught a Grove's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Brand Howard helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to Japoonvale getting a freekick after 78 minutes play. Brand Howard hit a great ball. Rich Allen kicked well hit freekick during the 79th minute of the match. In the 81st minute, Clark Rafferty 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. After 82 minutes of play Grove's Adolph Slattery was too eager in his attempt to stop his opponent and brought him down. With that he got his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. The supporters of Japoonvale booed when Grove was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 83 match minutes in a wonderful position. Adolph Slattery didn't get a good kick on the ball. Clark Rafferty received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 87th minute. Barney Muller tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. With a little luck, Grove's Barney Muller got control of the ball when Bern Baptiste tried to sneak it across the goal line. After 93 minutes, Clark Rafferty mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Japoonvale and the Grove players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 93rd match minute, Japoonvale was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Clark Rafferty to maneuver through the defense. 97 minutes into the match, Japoonvale's Bern Baptiste sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Barney Muller narrowly saved just below the crossbar. When the final whistle sounded Japoonvale left the ground with the victory after a much better performance than Grove.