League

Swinton Stadium
Spectators: 5001 (Terracing: 4001, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Swinton AFC's Russ Crichton 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. After 5 minutes, Frank Leslie mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Zulu Army and the Swinton AFC players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 5 played minutes Zulu Army got a freekick which was hit by Frank Leslie. Denzil Beadle placed the ball on the penalty spot and got himself ready to shoot. Post out! Russ Crichton got in the 12th a clear chance and fired away a hard shot against goal, but Steve Bridgeman handled the situation perfectly and made a save by the crossbar. If Patrick Bailey had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 13th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 30th match minute, Zulu Army was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Malcolm McAleer to maneuver through the defense. Steve Bridgeman showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Russ Crichton in the 33rd minute of the match. Tristram Bittner made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Brandon Dry in the 35th minute of play. Zulu Army's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Martyn Young in the 37th minute. The corner ended in Martyn Young almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Swinton AFC's Tristram Bittner did a great save. Tristram Bittner showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Hugh Corrigan in the 39th minute of the match. Johnathan Preston hit a great freekick 40 minutes into the match. In the 44th minute, Brandon Dry 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. If Patrick Bailey had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 45th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Patrick Bailey could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 47th minute of the match, but Steve Bridgeman made a huge save. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Richie Pearch stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. An unexpectedly hard shot by Russ Crichton in the 51st minute of play forced Zulu Army's goalkeeper Steve Bridgeman to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Brandon Dry kicked well hit freekick during the 52nd minute of the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 56th minute, Patrick Bailey managed to get in a good position for a shot. Swinton AFC's supporters rose to their feet, but Patrick Bailey was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Steve Bridgeman breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Steve Bridgeman took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Patrick Bailey, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Patrick Bailey received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 64th minute. Steve Bridgeman tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 66th minute Patrick Bailey shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Steve Bridgeman saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a rather tough play, Zulu Army's Malcolm McAleer got a free kick in the 67th minute. After having played for 68 minutes, Russ Crichton managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Swinton AFC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Russ Crichton was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Patrick Bailey might have been able to make a better finish in the 71st minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Steve Bridgeman. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Patrick Bailey ran back to his position shaking his head. Hugh Corrigan struck a weak shot in the 86th minute. Tristram Bittner didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Zulu Army. Malcolm McAleer received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 90th minute. Tristram Bittner tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Richie Pearch sent away a hard shot on goal in the 92nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Brandon Dry's late challenge caught a Swinton AFC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Brandon Dry helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Swinton AFC booed when Zulu Army was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 94 match minutes in a wonderful position. Brandon Dry didn't get a good kick on the ball. Zulu Army's Steve Bridgeman played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Russ Crichton in the 97th minute of play.