League

Athletic Stadium
Spectators: 6734 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1734, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Barney Winship started the match with the kick off. Andre Baldwin didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Barney Winship went, in the 4th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. Denis Philpott received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 8th minute. Andre Baldwin tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Mbenghis's Donald Calder played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Johnny Tompkins in the 12th minute of play. Denis Philpott might have been able to make a better finish in the 16th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Andre Baldwin. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Denis Philpott ran back to his position shaking his head. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Barney Winship in the 18th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Andre Baldwin saved Manchester Athletic from getting behind. Andre Baldwin showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Denis Philpott, who was totally free with the ball in the 24th minute. Graeme Patterson recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 25th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Andre Baldwin made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Barney Winship in the 27th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Barney Winship in the 29th minute of play forced Manchester Athletic's goalkeeper Andre Baldwin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Mbenghis's Donald Calder proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 31st minute of the match, managed to save Mbenghis from getting a goal against them. In the 36th minute of the match Thomas Hampton shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Donald Calder showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. Mbenghis's Denis Philpott got a good chance for a goal in the 39th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 40th minute, Bradley Starr hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Carl Linford hit a great freekick 42 minutes into the match. Donald Calder was in exellent shape and made a fantastic save when he, in the 43rd minute of the match, managed to get hold of the ball after a long shot from Thomas Hampton. Through an outstanding action, after 45 minutes, Donald Calder successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. Thanks to some nice moves Sly Thornton could shoot a difficult shot in the 46th minute, which Donald Calder however easily saved by the left post. 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.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Johnny Tompkins to make the kick off. Carl Linford charged in rather forcefully in the 53rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Carl Linford the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Graeme Patterson fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 59th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Andre Baldwin having to interfere. Sly Thornton's late challenge caught a Mbenghis's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Sly Thornton helped the player get up and apologised. In the 60th match minute, Manchester Athletic was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Sly Thornton to maneuver through the defense. Barney Winship sent away a hard shot on goal in the 61st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Andre Baldwin made a fantastic save in the 63rd minute, when Antony Dothery sent off a good shot on target. With 72 minutes on the clock, Carl Linford commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. The referee gave Manchester Athletic a penalty, 73 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Thomas Hampton, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Mbenghis's Donald Calder. 2-2. Antony Dothery blasted a shot towards the goal in the 78th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Andre Baldwin having to make a save. If Antony Dothery had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 80th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Johnny Tompkins hit a great freekick 84 minutes into the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Antony Dothery got free with Andre Baldwin in the 86th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The supporters of Manchester Athletic booed when Mbenghis was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 92 match minutes in a wonderful position. Nathan Bush didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 93rd minute of the match Thomas Hampton shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Donald Calder showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. The Manchester Athletic support was delighted with a win in a match that could easily have ended differently.