League

Uttoxeter
Spectators: 6875 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1875, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Jonny Downes started the match with the kick off. Joel Bowden's late challenge caught a Meols's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Joel Bowden helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, Uttoxeter's Joel Bowden got a free kick in the 2nd minute. 10 minutes into the match, Meols's goal looked a bit too open when Jonny Downes came free, but Steven Jewson reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 11th match minute, Meols was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ivan Spacey to maneuver through the defense. Pierre Rashleigh scored 0-1 in the 13th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Graham Jackson, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Jonny Downes's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Steven Jewson read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 17th minute of play. Thomas Nethercoat sent away a hard shot on goal in the 22nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 25 minutes, Alex Avery mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Meols and the Uttoxeter players grew even worse after the yellow card. In a very dangerous position, a player in Meols fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 24th minute. Penalty! After 29 minutes of play Uttoxeter's Joel Bowden 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. Joel Bowden hit a great freekick 29 minutes into the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 37th minute, Thomas Nethercoat managed to get in a good position for a shot. Meols's supporters rose to their feet, but Thomas Nethercoat was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Graham Jackson breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Uttoxeter's Graham Jackson played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Pierre Rashleigh in the 40th minute of play. The score stood at 1-1 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

Pierre Rashleigh fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 53rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Graham Jackson having to interfere. If Thomas Nethercoat had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 60th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Giles Rowe fell near the penalty area in the 61st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Uttoxeter's protests and gave Giles Rowe a yellow card for diving instead. After 61 played minutes Uttoxeter got a freekick which was hit by Giles Rowe. When Thomas Nethercoat got free in front of the goal in the 62nd minute he wasn't very focused and chipped the ball just over the goal. Graham Jackson was delighted since he was out of position and the ball would have got in if it had gone under the crossbar. Bob Beecham sent away a hard shot on goal in the 64th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Giles Rowe in the 66th minute of play forced Meols's goalkeeper Steven Jewson to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Thomas Nethercoat had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 69th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Thomas Nethercoat had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 71st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The supporters of Meols booed when Uttoxeter was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 73 match minutes in a wonderful position. Samuel Brookman didn't get a good kick on the ball. Wayne Beard took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 74th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Graham Jackson. Uttoxeter's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Pierre Rashleigh struck a weak shot in the 75th minute. Graham Jackson didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Meols. Pierre Rashleigh sent away a hard shot on goal in the 85th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance.