League

Birralee Park
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Nilson Ross started the match with the kick off. Luke Groves hit a great freekick 2 minutes into the match. Kotara's Jacobs Stageman got a good chance for a goal in the 7th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. If Nilson Ross had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 9th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Birralee's Thomas Staworowski played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jacobs Stageman in the 10th minute of play. Jacobs Stageman scored 0-1 in the 14th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Thomas Staworowski, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. A collision led to Kotara getting a freekick after 17 minutes play. Luke Groves hit a great ball. The supporters of Kotara booed when Birralee was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 26 match minutes in a wonderful position. Bryant Dale didn't get a good kick on the ball. Nilson Ross received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 30th minute. Thomas Staworowski tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Earle Inwood charged in rather forcefully in the 31st minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Earle Inwood the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 31 played minutes Birralee got a freekick which was hit by Earle Inwood. If Ned Finden had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 36th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Lauder Collins struck a weak shot in the 37th minute. Gregg Potter didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Birralee. If Jacobs Stageman had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 40th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jacobs Stageman sent away a hard shot on goal in the 44th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The wind increased when Lauder Collins made the kick off in the second half. Andrews Stevens hit a great freekick 52 minutes into the match. The audience was convinced that Nilson Ross's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Thomas Staworowski was relentless in the 54th minute of the game. When Kotara's Nilson Ross in the 58th minute got a chance for a shot 58th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Birralee's goalie prevented a goal. Birralee's Thomas Staworowski played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Nilson Ross in the 61st minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ned Finden in the 71st minute of play forced Kotara's goalkeeper Gregg Potter to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Birralee's zone, Nilson Ross stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Thomas Staworowski came out of the goal and Nilson Ross tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Case Russell hit a great freekick 77 minutes into the match. Ned Finden sent away a hard shot on goal in the 80th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A collision led to Birralee getting a freekick after 84 minutes play. Earle Inwood hit a great ball. Thomas Staworowski showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Nilson Ross in the 85th minute of the match. After a rather tough play, Kotara's Rudolph Brooks got a free kick in the 87th minute. The Kotara fans' excitement grew in the 93rd match minute when Kotara's Jacobs Stageman looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 0-2 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. In the 96th minute the ball was on its way in behind Birralee's goalkeeper Thomas Staworowski, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar.