League

Rawtenstall Park
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) If Graham Branston had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 5th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Gregory Dawes hit a great freekick 6 minutes into the match. If Cliff Wardell had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 12th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The audience thought a goal was coming when Graham Branston got free with Nicholas Lappin in the 15th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 16 minutes into the match, Ambleside's goal looked a bit too open when Tommy Stonehouse came free, but Nicholas Lappin reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Graham Branston could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 17th minute of the match, but Nicholas Lappin made a huge save. Nicholas Lappin made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tommy Stonehouse in the 19th minute of play. In the 22nd minute, Cliff Wardell left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Ambleside fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. Tommy Stonehouse sent away a hard shot on goal in the 25th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Ambleside's Cliff Wardell got a good chance for a goal in the 30th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The supporters of Ambleside booed when Rawtenstall was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 35 match minutes in a wonderful position. Graham Branston didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Ambleside's zone, Tommy Stonehouse stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Nicholas Lappin came out of the goal and Tommy Stonehouse tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Cliff Wardell to make the kick off. Cliff Wardell received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 52nd minute. Marty Jenkins tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 65 played minutes Ambleside got a freekick which was hit by Simeon Couzens. When Tommy Stonehouse came up free with the goalie in the 67th minute, the Rawtenstall 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 Tommy Stonehouse couldn't finish the play. Tommy Stonehouse struck a weak shot in the 72nd minute. Nicholas Lappin didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Rawtenstall. Graham Branston fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 74th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nicholas Lappin having to interfere. When Rawtenstall's Tommy Stonehouse in the 76th minute got a chance for a shot 76th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Ambleside's goalie prevented a goal. Rawtenstall's Tommy Stonehouse got a good chance for a goal in the 93rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Jeers came from both ends of the stadium when the final whistle went. Neither team had looked impressive and the draw seeemd a fair result.