League

Stalybridge Stadium
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Kirk Bentley got the match started through his kick off. Ivan Garner was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Sidney Freeman showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-0 in the 7 minute of play. When the match clock showed 13 minutes, the score became 1-1 when Dale Stiles sped through Stalybridge United's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Damion Lonsdale. Ivan Garner made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gus Westerby in the 17th minute of play. Ivan Garner was a little too slow when Callum Black got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 28th minute. The score was now 3-1. If Callum Black had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 31st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 36th minute, Stalybridge United's Gus Westerby ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Ivan Garner. Ivan Garner yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 4-1. In the 40th minute Dale Stiles shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Damion Lonsdale saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Damion Lonsdale showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jude Clough, who was totally free with the ball in the 41st minute. A collision led to Stalybridge United getting a freekick after 42 minutes play. Gus Westerby hit a great ball.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Gus Westerby to make the kick off. Nick Ellis kicked well hit freekick during the 51st minute of the match. Nick Ellis lost his temper 56 minutes into the game and shoved another player to the ground. He was immediately shown a red card. The referee gave Stalybridge United a penalty, 59 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Gus Westerby, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of ZORA's Ivan Garner. 6-1. After some careless play in the ZORA defense, Callum Black kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Ivan Garner. The ZORA fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Ivan Garner should have stopped the shot. In the 70th minute, Gus Westerby hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Ivan Garner didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Deon Porter went, in the 79th minute, to the upper right corner, 8-1 was the resulting score. The supporters of Stalybridge United booed when ZORA was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 82 match minutes in a wonderful position. Warren Renner didn't get a good kick on the ball. Gus Westerby received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 84th minute. Ivan Garner tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 90 minutes into the match, Stalybridge United's goalkeeper Damion Lonsdale had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Jude Clough. Sidney Freeman took the ball and in the 93 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Ivan Garner. Ivan Garner dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 9-1. After having played for 97 minutes, Sidney Freeman managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Stalybridge United's supporters crossed their fingers, but Sidney Freeman was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. There was no doubt that Stalybridge United were the better team. Stalybridge United's players enjoyed the ovations of the crowd after the victory.