League

Witham
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Gwyn Monk made the kick off which started today's match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gwyn Monk in the 3rd minute of play forced Fletching AFC's goalkeeper Vic Johnston to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Vic Johnston took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gwyn Monk, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a rather tough play, Fletching AFC's Darryl Cheesman got a free kick in the 7th minute. In the 12th minute, Darryl Cheesman hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Conal McCunnie had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 15th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. A collision led to Witham City getting a freekick after 17 minutes play. Jack Ackroyd hit a great ball. Vic Johnston showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gwyn Monk, who was totally free with the ball in the 21st minute. Gwyn Monk fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 23rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Vic Johnston having to interfere. When Denis Fawcett came up free with the goalie in the 31st minute, the Fletching AFC 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 Denis Fawcett couldn't finish the play. Noel Myers showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Francis Mabbutt, who was totally free with the ball in the 36th minute. Denis Fawcett blasted a shot towards the goal in the 37th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Noel Myers having to make a save. Francis Mabbutt sent away a hard shot on goal in the 46th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-1 lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Denis Fawcett stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After having played for 52 minutes, Darryl Cheesman managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Fletching AFC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Darryl Cheesman was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Noel Myers showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Denis Fawcett in the 53rd minute of the match. Eric Lamb kicked well hit freekick during the 54th minute of the match. Ben Vaughan's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Noel Myers read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 56th minute of play. The audience was convinced that Conal McCunnie's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Vic Johnston was relentless in the 58th minute of the game. 60 minutes into the match, Witham City's Gwyn Monk sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Vic Johnston narrowly saved just below the crossbar. When Conal McCunnie came up free with the goalie in the 62nd minute, the Witham 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 Conal McCunnie couldn't finish the play. Conal McCunnie recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 66th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. If Conal McCunnie had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 68th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Vic Johnston took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gwyn Monk, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When Gwyn Monk came up free with the goalie in the 71st minute, the Witham 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 Gwyn Monk couldn't finish the play. Gwyn Monk sent away a hard shot on goal in the 73rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When Witham City's Conal McCunnie in 75 game minutes managed to cut through with the ball in front of the goal, only having to shoot. Vic Johnston guarding the goal like a pit bull was extremely focused and managed to reach the ball just by the crossbar before it went in. Vic Johnston showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gwyn Monk in the 78th minute of the match. The attack was good, but when Conal McCunnie in the 80th minute was about to shoot he didn't kick quite good enough and the ball went high over goal. In the 82ndth minute of the game Gwyn Monk who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Fletching AFC's Vic Johnston was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. 83 minutes into the match, Gwyn Monk notched a goal, 1-1, to the right of Fletching AFC's Vic Johnston. Vic Johnston was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Bryan Greaves hit a great freekick 90 minutes into the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Francis Mabbutt got free with Noel Myers in the 92nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 93rd minute Denis Fawcett shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Noel Myers saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. With a little luck, Witham City's Noel Myers got control of the ball when Francis Mabbutt tried to sneak it across the goal line. Denis Fawcett struck a weak shot in the 96th minute. Noel Myers didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Fletching AFC. The second half was just like the first, even and exciting. The match ended in a draw.