League

Stowmarket
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Winsford's Leigh Horseman started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. In the 5th minute of the match Toby Starr shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Terry Winship showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. Anthony Prince struck a weak shot in the 6th minute. Dane Purkiss didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Winsford. When the match clock showed 11 minutes, the score became 0-1 when Leigh Horseman sped through Stowmarket's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Dane Purkiss. After some fancy dribbling in the 15th minute, Tommy Dunn managed to get in a good position for a shot. Stowmarket's supporters rose to their feet, but Tommy Dunn was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Terry Winship breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 19 minutes into the game, Stowmarket's Harvey Noble nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Terry Winship made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-1. In the 34th minute, Leigh Horseman ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Dane Purkiss was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-2. Harvey Noble blasted a shot towards the goal in the 37th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Terry Winship having to make a save. After a defensive mix-up in Winsford's zone, Les Steele stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Terry Winship came out of the goal and Les Steele tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Winsford's Terry Winship played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Marty Blewitt in the 43rd minute of play. If Leigh Horseman had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 46th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 1-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Tommy Dunn to strike the kick off in the second half. After having played for 50 minutes, Leigh Horseman managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Winsford's supporters crossed their fingers, but Leigh Horseman was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. When Harvey Noble came up free with the goalie in the 54th minute, the Stowmarket 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 Harvey Noble couldn't finish the play. Harvey Noble sent away a hard shot on goal in the 60th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 61 minutes into the match, Tommy Dunn notched a goal, 2-2, to the right of Winsford's Terry Winship. Terry Winship was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. A hard shot 65 in the game by Anthony Prince from a close distance when the talented Dane Purkiss managed to make a qualified save. Stowmarket's players were relieved. Anthony Prince could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 66th minute of the match, but Dane Purkiss made a huge save. Winsford's Isaac McRobbie pulled a muscle in his back after 67 minutes and couldn't finish the game. After 67 minutes, Marty Blewitt mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Stowmarket and the Winsford players grew even worse after the yellow card. The audience thought a goal was coming when Anthony Prince got free with Dane Purkiss in the 69th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After having played for 70 minutes, Jim Holroyd managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Winsford's supporters crossed their fingers, but Jim Holroyd was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Harvey Noble sent away a hard shot on goal in the 73rd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Winsford's Terry Winship played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Harvey Noble in the 73rd minute of play. 74 minutes into the match, Stowmarket's Tommy Dunn sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Terry Winship narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Stowmarket's Dane Purkiss proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 76th minute of the match, managed to save Stowmarket from getting a goal against them. In the 77th minute, Jim Holroyd hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Harvey Noble had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 80th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Anthony Prince received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 82nd minute. Dane Purkiss tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 87 minutes into the game, Stowmarket's Harvey Noble nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Terry Winship made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 3-2. Harvey Noble fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 94th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Terry Winship having to interfere. If Harvey Noble had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 96th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Stowmarket's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.