League

Morpeth
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Jon Barraclough got the match started through his kick off. Jerry Bradfield's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Greg Hayes read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 7th minute of play. West Rainton's Rod Fleming played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jon Barraclough in the 13th minute of play. 16 minutes into the match, West Rainton's goal looked a bit too open when Jon Barraclough came free, but Rod Fleming reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Jerry Bradfield fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 19th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Greg Hayes having to interfere. Danny Appleton fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 25th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rod Fleming having to interfere. If Jon Barraclough had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 26th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. A collision led to Morpeth getting a freekick after 27 minutes play. Darius Symons hit a great ball. In the 28th minute, Jerry Bradfield 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. Jon Barraclough fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 30th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rod Fleming having to interfere. When Danny Appleton came up free with the goalie in the 33rd minute, the Morpeth 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 Danny Appleton couldn't finish the play. Danny Appleton sent away a hard shot on goal in the 35th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. With his leg Rod Fleming managed to avoid a goal in the 42ndth minute, when Morpeth's Danny Appleton fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Garth Lawton to strike the kick off in the second half. 57 minutes into the game, Danny Appleton cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 3-0. Rod Fleming was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. If Jon Barraclough had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 60th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jerry Bradfield received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 65th minute. Greg Hayes tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. With an all-out effort, West Rainton's Greg Hayes threw himself towards the right post 69 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Garth Lawton, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Rod Fleming showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Jon Barraclough in the 72nd minute of the match. In the 76th minute Garth Lawton shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Greg Hayes saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The Morpeth fans' excitement grew in the 82nd match minute when Morpeth's Jon Barraclough 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 4-0 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. In the 85th minute, Danny Appleton ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Rod Fleming was frozen by the shot and now it was 5-0. Jon Barraclough sent away a hard shot on goal in the 91st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Jerry Bradfield had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 98th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 99 minutes, Kurt Townson mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the West Rainton and the Morpeth players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 99th match minute, West Rainton was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Kurt Townson to maneuver through the defense. The supporters of Morpeth booed when West Rainton was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 100 match minutes in a wonderful position. Kurt Townson didn't get a good kick on the ball. Jon Barraclough got in the 102nd a clear chance and fired away a hard shot against goal, but Rod Fleming handled the situation perfectly and made a save by the crossbar. There was no doubt that Morpeth were the better team. Morpeth's players enjoyed the ovations of the crowd after the victory.