League

Stoneleigh
Spectators: 7480 (Terracing: 5610, Seating: 1720, VIP seats: 150) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Neil Bzeu made the kick off which started today's match. Alfred Harrad was a little too slow when Kevin Higson got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 5th minute. The score was now 1-0. Michael Millman took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Neil Bzeu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 9th match minute, FKS Stal Mielec was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Dave Ryder to maneuver through the defense. Neil Bzeu received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 11th minute. Michael Millman tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 17 minutes of play, Banbury United's Byron Afful made it 1-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Michael Millman was left in no man's land by his defense there! 20 minutes into the match, Banbury United's Byron Afful sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Michael Millman narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After 23 minutes, Rio Osbourne mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Banbury United and the FKS Stal Mielec players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 23rd match minute, Banbury United was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Rio Osbourne to maneuver through the defense. When Banbury United's Byron Afful in the 26th minute got a chance for a shot 26th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye FKS Stal Mielec's goalie prevented a goal. Michael Millman took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Byron Afful, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 29th minute Neil Bzeu shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Michael Millman saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Neil Bzeu received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 34th minute. Michael Millman tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 36 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for FKS Stal Mielec! Louis Basterfield shot the penalty kick by force right in the crossbar. No goal. Neil Bzeu's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Michael Millman read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 41st minute of play. 41 minutes into the game, Sebastian Cahill was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. FKS Stal Mielec's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Banbury United the free kick. After 41 played minutes FKS Stal Mielec got a freekick which was hit by Sebastian Cahill. When Byron Afful came up free with the goalie in the 43rd minute, the Banbury United 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 Byron Afful couldn't finish the play. Neil Bzeu sent away a hard shot on goal in the 46th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Kevin Higson to make the kick off. In the 53rd minute, Neil Bzeu 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. In the 54th minute, Byron Afful made a precise shot to the right of Michael Millman. FKS Stal Mielec's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-2. Michael Millman made an important save on a dangerous shot by Hayden Falkingham in the 62nd minute. When FKS Stal Mielec's Kevin Higson in the 64th minute got a chance for a shot 64th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Banbury United's goalie prevented a goal. 68 minutes into the match, Byron Afful dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Michael Millman, 1-3. Louis Basterfield charged in rather forcefully in the 73rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Louis Basterfield the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In a very dangerous position, a player in Banbury United fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 72nd minute. Penalty! Michael Millman showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Neil Bzeu in the 80th minute of the match. Sebastian Cahill hit a great freekick 82 minutes into the match. Louis Basterfield, 83 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. Michael Millman made an important save on a dangerous shot by Byron Afful in the 84th minute. Neil Bzeu received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 86th minute. Michael Millman tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. With an all-out effort, Banbury United's Michael Millman threw himself towards the right post 95 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Neil Bzeu, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Byron Afful sent away a hard shot on goal in the 97th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. When the match was over Banbury United could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than FKS Stal Mielec throughout the match.