League

Portia Akomedu Arena
Spectators: 6646 (Terracing: 5646, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Matthew Mortimer got the match started through his kick off. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Tim Pearce in the 6th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Ronan Kinsey prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After some fancy dribbling in the 10th minute, Tristan Brewer managed to get in a good position for a shot. Stanford le Hope's supporters rose to their feet, but Tristan Brewer was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ronan Kinsey breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Ronan Kinsey made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tim Pearce in the 15th minute of play. A collision led to Shadows FC getting a freekick after 15 minutes play. William Bramhall hit a great ball. After a rather tough play, Shadows FC's Kenny Coburn got a free kick in the 19th minute. If Barrie Creighton had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 27th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Barrie Creighton in the 29th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Ronan Kinsey saved Shadows FC from getting behind. After having played for 31 minutes, Matthew Mortimer managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Shadows FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Matthew Mortimer was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After 39 played minutes Shadows FC got a freekick which was hit by John-Paul Griffiths. 40 minutes into the match, Stanford le Hope's Liam Marriot broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. After the first half Stanford le Hope were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Barrie Creighton to make the kick off. Ollie Kitchen charged in rather forcefully in the 52nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Ollie Kitchen the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The supporters of Stanford le Hope booed when Shadows FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 53 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ollie Kitchen didn't get a good kick on the ball. 58 minutes into the match, Shadows FC's goal looked a bit too open when Barrie Creighton came free, but Ronan Kinsey reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Kenny Coburn was shown his second yellow card after 61 minutes, following a rather ugly tackle on opponent. That was the end of his participation in the match. In the 62nd minute, Kenny Coburn hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Barrie Creighton fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 65th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ronan Kinsey having to interfere. In the 68th minute Barrie Creighton shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ronan Kinsey saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 70th minute, Shadows FC's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Tim Pearce fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Barrie Creighton in the 71st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Ronan Kinsey saved Shadows FC from getting behind. The audience thought a goal was coming when Tim Pearce got free with Ronan Kinsey in the 74th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. If Tim Pearce had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 77th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 79 minutes in the game, the ball went up into the seats when Stanford le Hope's Barrie Creighton fired away a shot that was just a little bit too high. He walked away shaking his head. Shadows FC's Ronan Kinsey played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Barrie Creighton in the 85th minute of play. 87 minutes into the game, Barrie Creighton lined in a short shot 0-2 behind a frustrated Ronan Kinsey. If Barrie Creighton had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 95th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Stanford le Hope played a much better game than Shadows FC and deserved their victory. The Shadows FC players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.