League

Congleton
Spectators: 7615 (Terracing: 5735, Seating: 1758, VIP seats: 122) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Rex Burrows took the kick off in the first half of the match. The supporters of Cambridge City booed when Congleton was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 3 match minutes in a wonderful position. Nick Ring didn't get a good kick on the ball. Dean Paterson came out of the goal in the 6th minute to try and stop a shot by Congleton's Rex Burrows. But to his dismay, Rex Burrows quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-0. Dean Paterson was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Damien Farrell showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 2-0 in the 9 minute of play. Denis Rothwell took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nat Pollock, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The supporters of Cambridge City booed when Congleton was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 22 match minutes in a wonderful position. Nick Ring didn't get a good kick on the ball. Nat Pollock recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 24th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 29th minute, Will Rooney 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. When Peter Rice came up free with the goalie in the 33rd minute, the Cambridge City 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 Peter Rice couldn't finish the play. After a defensive mix-up in Congleton's zone, Nat Pollock stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Denis Rothwell came out of the goal and Nat Pollock tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After 39 played minutes Congleton got a freekick which was hit by Marty Marsden. 41 minutes into the match, Cambridge City's Peter Rice sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Denis Rothwell narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Nat Pollock sent away a hard shot on goal in the 43rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a defensive mix-up in Congleton's zone, Callum Hill stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Denis Rothwell came out of the goal and Callum Hill tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 2-1.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Peter Rice made a kick off. When Peter Rice came up free with the goalie in the 53rd minute, the Cambridge City 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 Peter Rice couldn't finish the play. Cambridge City's Dean Paterson played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Billie Blakewell in the 55th minute of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 58th minute, Bryan Dowrick managed to get in a good position for a shot. Cambridge City's supporters rose to their feet, but Bryan Dowrick was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Denis Rothwell breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Danny Pitman received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 66th minute. Denis Rothwell tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Peter Rice came up free with the goalie in the 72nd minute, the Cambridge City 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 Peter Rice couldn't finish the play. Denis Rothwell made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Darren Fearns in the 75th minute of play. In the 76th minute Rex Burrows shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dean Paterson saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 78 minutes of play, Congleton's Billie Blakewell made it 3-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Dean Paterson was left in no man's land by his defense there! Denis Rothwell made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Darren Fearns in the 81st minute of play. If Bryan Dowrick had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 83rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Denis Rothwell took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Peter Rice, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Denis Rothwell made a fantastic save in the 91st minute, when Will Rooney sent off a good shot on target. In the 92nd minute, Nat Pollock 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. The Congleton support was delighted with a win in a match that could easily have ended differently.