League

New Cross Stadium
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Gary Brook made the kick off which started today's match. Blair Pack might have been able to make a better finish in the 4th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Rowan Pye-Finch. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Blair Pack ran back to his position shaking his head. When birmingham bummers's Sam Merrill in the 4th minute got a chance for a shot 4th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Stoke Lodge Rovers's goalie prevented a goal. 6 minutes into the match, Stoke Lodge Rovers's goalkeeper Rowan Pye-Finch had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Blair Pack. In the 6th minute, Len Jordoan hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If William Haylock had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 8th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 10 minutes into the match, birmingham bummers's goal looked a bit too open when William Haylock came free, but Norman Wildman reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Blair Pack fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 14th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rowan Pye-Finch having to interfere. Norman Wildman took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gary Brook, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Rowan Pye-Finch showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Sam Merrill in the 23rd minute of the match. A collision led to Stoke Lodge Rovers getting a freekick after 24 minutes play. Buster Hedley hit a great ball. When William Haylock came up free with the goalie in the 27th minute, the Stoke Lodge Rovers 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 William Haylock couldn't finish the play. Norman Wildman showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from William Haylock, who was totally free with the ball in the 30th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Sam Merrill in the 33rd minute of play forced Stoke Lodge Rovers's goalkeeper Rowan Pye-Finch to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a little luck, Stoke Lodge Rovers's Rowan Pye-Finch got control of the ball when Blair Pack tried to sneak it across the goal line. After 45 played minutes Stoke Lodge Rovers got a freekick which was hit by Leigh Tompkins. 47 minutes into the match, Blair Pack dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Rowan Pye-Finch, 1-1. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Sam Merrill stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. William Haylock sent away a hard shot on goal in the 56th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 59 minutes of play birmingham bummers's Damon Hutchings 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. In the 60th minute, Damon Hutchings hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Blair Pack struck a weak shot in the 62nd minute. Rowan Pye-Finch didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for birmingham bummers. In the 67th minute, Jack Wheeler hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 74thth minute of the game Gary Brook who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but birmingham bummers's Norman Wildman was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. William Haylocks short, quick shot in the 83rdth minute got Norman Wildman to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. After having played for 87 minutes, Blair Pack managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. birmingham bummers's supporters crossed their fingers, but Blair Pack was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. William Haylock recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 92nd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The birmingham bummers fans cheered their team off the field, for while Stoke Lodge Rovers had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.