League

Stocksbridge
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Stephen Koech got the match started through his kick off. 4 minutes into the game, Stephen Koech cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Duncan Birir was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. After a rather tough play, Stocksbridge's Christopher Wangeci got a free kick in the 8th minute. In the 9th minute of the match Dedan Kariuki shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Duncan Birir showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. Stephen Koech sent away a hard shot on goal in the 15th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Dedan Kariuki took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 18th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Duncan Birir. Stocksbridge's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. When Dedan Kariuki fell near the penalty area in the 20th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Widnes United's protests and gave Dedan Kariuki a yellow card for diving instead. In the 20th minute, Dedan Kariuki hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The supporters of Stocksbridge booed when Widnes United was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 21 match minutes in a wonderful position. James Muhoho didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Vincent Mutheu had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 26th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After some fancy dribbling in the 28th minute, Dedan Kariuki managed to get in a good position for a shot. Widnes United's supporters rose to their feet, but Dedan Kariuki was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Duncan Birir breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After having played for 30 minutes, Stephen Koech managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Widnes United's supporters crossed their fingers, but Stephen Koech was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Widnes United's John Biwott proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 31st minute of the match, managed to save Widnes United from getting a goal against them. Stephen Koech received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 34th minute. Duncan Birir tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. John Biwott didn't succeed in stopping the ball in the 35th minute, which inside left pole to 1-1. 41 minutes into the match, Stephen Koech notched a goal, 1-2, to the right of Stocksbridge's Duncan Birir. Duncan Birir was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. After 47 played minutes Stocksbridge got a freekick which was hit by Christopher Wangeci. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 1-2 lead.

48 minutes into the match, Widnes United's Dedan Kariuki broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. The audience was convinced that Dedan Kariuki's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Duncan Birir was relentless in the 55th minute of the game. After some careless play in the Widnes United defense, Vincent Mutheu kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of John Biwott. The Widnes United fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that John Biwott should have stopped the shot. Vincent Mutheu received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 66th minute. John Biwott tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Ngũgĩ wa Shah recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 68th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. The audience was convinced that Stephen Koech's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Duncan Birir was relentless in the 74th minute of the game. Dedan Kariuki sent away a hard shot on goal in the 76th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. John Biwott showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ngũgĩ wa Shah in the 78th minute of the match. Duncan Birir showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Dedan Kariuki in the 81st minute of the match. 82 minutes had been played when some careless play by Stocksbridge's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Dedan Kariuki was slow to take the kick. During this time Widnes United's players had a chance to rest. A well-hit corner resulted in Julius Wambui heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. A hard shot 84 in the game by Stephen Koech from a close distance when the talented Duncan Birir managed to make a qualified save. Stocksbridge's players were relieved. 88 minutes into the match, Stocksbridge's goal looked a bit too open when Dedan Kariuki came free, but Duncan Birir reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 92nd minute Ngũgĩ wa Shah shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but John Biwott saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. John Biwott didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Ngũgĩ wa Shah went, in the 95th minute, to the upper right corner, 3-2 was the resulting score. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Stocksbridge had won after a very even match.