League

Handforth
Spectators: 8431 (Terracing: 6252, Seating: 2127, VIP seats: 52) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Samson Kiptanui started the match with the kick off. Samson Kiptanuis short, quick shot in the 4thth minute got John Israel to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. In the 5th minute of the match, Tom Kipkoech tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but John Israel saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. John Israel made an important save on a dangerous shot by Samson Kiptanui in the 10th minute. Moses Akinyi hit a great freekick 14 minutes into the match. In the 17thth minute of the game Samson Kiptanui who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Yoxford's John Israel was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. When Daniel Koech came up free with the goalie in the 18th minute, the Botswana Meat Commission 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 Daniel Koech couldn't finish the play. In the 19thth minute of the game Samson Kiptanui who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Yoxford's John Israel was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Yoxford's zone, Samson Kiptanui stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. John Israel came out of the goal and Samson Kiptanui tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. If Daniel Koech had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 23rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. John Israel made a fantastic save in the 24th minute, when Samson Kiptanui sent off a good shot on target. Sammy Njoroge charged in rather forcefully in the 25th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Sammy Njoroge the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 27th minute, Samson Kiptanui 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. John Israel made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Samson Kiptanui in the 30th minute of play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by John Mutuli during the 32nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. John Israel stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Samson Kiptanui's shot from short distance in the 33rd minute. In the 35th minute Samson Kiptanui shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but John Israel saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 36th minute, John Mutuli hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. With a little luck, Yoxford's John Israel got control of the ball when Daniel Koech tried to sneak it across the goal line. A hard shot by Moses Akinyi from long distance, 45 minutes into the match, got John Israel's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. In the 47th minute, Tom Kipkoech 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. 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 players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. John Wainaina was the one to do the kick off. After some fancy dribbling in the 52nd minute, Samson Kiptanui managed to get in a good position for a shot. Botswana Meat Commission's supporters rose to their feet, but Samson Kiptanui was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. John Israel breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. John Israel showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Samson Kiptanui, who was totally free with the ball in the 53rd minute. Moses Akinyi struck a weak shot in the 60th minute. John Israel didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Botswana Meat Commission. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Samson Kiptanui in the 62nd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg John Israel saved Yoxford from getting behind. The audience was convinced that Samson Kiptanui's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but John Israel was relentless in the 64th minute of the game. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Samson Kiptanui in the 67th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck John Israel prevented the ball from getting in the gole. The audience was convinced that Samson Kiptanui's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but John Israel was relentless in the 68th minute of the game. When Botswana Meat Commission's Samson Kiptanui in the 70th minute got a chance for a shot 70th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Yoxford's goalie prevented a goal. Botswana Meat Commission's Moses Akinyi got a good chance for a goal in the 71st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. John Israel stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Samson Kiptanui's shot from short distance in the 73rd minute. Moses Akinyi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 74th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 80 minutes into the match, Yoxford's goal looked a bit too open when Daniel Koech came free, but John Israel reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Samson Kiptanui in the 81st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg John Israel saved Yoxford from getting behind. A collision led to Yoxford getting a freekick after 85 minutes play. Elijah Nzeki hit a great ball. In the 86th minute, Samson Kiptanui 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. Moses Akinyi received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 90th minute. John Israel tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Jomo Leakey fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 91st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without John Israel having to interfere. When Botswana Meat Commission's Samson Kiptanui in the 93rd minute got a chance for a shot 93rd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Yoxford's goalie prevented a goal. John Israel showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Samson Kiptanui in the 95th minute of the match.