League

Maldon Stadium
Spectators: 7500 (Terracing: 5625, Seating: 1725, VIP seats: 150) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Vinnie Cardwell started the match with the kick off. With a little luck, Stalybridge United's Damion Lonsdale got control of the ball when Danny Bland tried to sneak it across the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Gus Westerby in the 7th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Duncan Haigh saved Maldon from getting behind. After a defensive mix-up in Maldon's zone, Deon Porter stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Duncan Haigh came out of the goal and Deon Porter tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Duncan Haigh showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gus Westerby, who was totally free with the ball in the 18th minute. Gus Westerby sent away a hard shot on goal in the 23rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Deon Porter fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 26th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Duncan Haigh having to interfere. If Callum Black had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 27th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. The supporters of Maldon booed when Stalybridge United was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 29 match minutes in a wonderful position. Deon Porter didn't get a good kick on the ball. Duncan Haigh showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Callum Black in the 34th minute of the match. 36 minutes into the match, Gus Westerby had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Duncan Haigh. Maldon's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Gus Westerby was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. Deon Porter struck a weak shot in the 40th minute. Duncan Haigh didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Stalybridge United. Duncan Haigh took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Callum Black, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Ian Woodcock kicked well hit freekick during the 45th minute of the match.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Gus Westerby to strike the kick off in the second half. In the 52nd minute, Stalybridge United's Sidney Freeman dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 0-2. Stalybridge United's Deon Porter got a good chance for a goal in the 56th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The supporters of Stalybridge United booed when Maldon was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 57 match minutes in a wonderful position. Sammy Osbourn didn't get a good kick on the ball. Gus Westerby sent away a hard shot on goal in the 59th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience thought a goal was coming when Gus Westerby got free with Duncan Haigh in the 61st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Stalybridge United's Callum Black got a good chance for a goal in the 62nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Deon Porter fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 66th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Duncan Haigh having to interfere. The audience was convinced that Gus Westerby's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Duncan Haigh was relentless in the 68th minute of the game. In the 68th minute, Stewart Dewhirst hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 70th match minute, Maldon was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Stewart Dewhirst to maneuver through the defense. With an all-out effort, Stalybridge United's Duncan Haigh threw himself towards the right post 74 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Sidney Freeman, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Sidney Freeman scored 0-3 in the 74th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Duncan Haigh, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 79th minute the ball was on its way in behind Maldon's goalkeeper Duncan Haigh, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 84 minutes into the match, Gus Westerby notched a goal, 0-4, to the right of Maldon's Duncan Haigh. Duncan Haigh was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. If Gus Westerby had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 87th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Giles Reed during the 89th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 89th match minute, Maldon was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Giles Reed to maneuver through the defense. Deon Porter fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 93rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Duncan Haigh having to interfere. Duncan Haigh showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gus Westerby in the 94th minute of the match. Stalybridge United's fans were overjoyed with their teams well-earned victory and stayed in the stadium long after the final whistle to celebrate the win.