League

Clapham
Spectators: 6736 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1726, VIP seats: 10) Codnor's Chesney Sykes 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. Shaun Moss hit a great freekick 2 minutes into the match. After having played for 5 minutes, Chesney Sykes managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Codnor's supporters crossed their fingers, but Chesney Sykes was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Bobby Stride came out of the goal in the 6th minute to try and stop a shot by Codnor's Chesney Sykes. But to his dismay, Chesney Sykes quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. Beinn Nelthorpe sent away a hard shot on goal in the 10th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After some fancy dribbling in the 17th minute, Beinn Nelthorpe managed to get in a good position for a shot. Codnor's supporters rose to their feet, but Beinn Nelthorpe was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Bobby Stride breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 21st minute, Chesney Sykes 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. After a rather tough play, Codnor's Howard Whitmore got a free kick in the 36th minute. After some careless play in the Clapham AFC defense, Beinn Nelthorpe kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Bobby Stride. The Clapham AFC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Bobby Stride should have stopped the shot. After 41 minutes, Howard Whitmore mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Codnor and the Clapham AFC players grew even worse after the yellow card. Howard Whitmore hit a great freekick 41 minutes into the match. Clapham AFC's Bobby Stride played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Chesney Sykes in the 43rd minute of play. In the 44th minute, Quentin Strongman hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 45 minutes into the match, Codnor's Chesney Sykes sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Bobby Stride narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 47th minute, Beinn Nelthorpe made a precise shot to the right of Bobby Stride. Clapham AFC's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-4. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-4 lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Quentin Strongman was the one to do the kick off. After having played for 52 minutes, Damian Newlyn managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Codnor's supporters crossed their fingers, but Damian Newlyn was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. When Jools Bridge came up free with the goalie in the 54th minute, the Codnor 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 Jools Bridge couldn't finish the play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Chesney Sykes in the 57th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Bobby Stride saved Clapham AFC from getting behind. If Beinn Nelthorpe had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 60th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Howard Whitmore in the 61st minute of play forced Clapham AFC's goalkeeper Bobby Stride to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Chesney Sykes fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 66th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Bobby Stride having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in Codnor's zone, Quentin Strongman stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Bart Dobson came out of the goal and Quentin Strongman tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 73 minutes into the game, Chesney Sykes recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Bobby Stride. Chesney Sykes showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 0-6. Bobby Stride made an important save on a dangerous shot by Chesney Sykes in the 77th minute. Howard Whitmore sent away a hard shot on goal in the 79th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Chesney Sykes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 81st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Beinn Nelthorpe had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 83rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. With a little luck, Clapham AFC's Bobby Stride got control of the ball when Beinn Nelthorpe tried to sneak it across the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Chesney Sykes got free with Bobby Stride in the 89th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Liam Milner hit a great freekick 95 minutes into the match. 97 minutes into the match, Howard Whitmore dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Bobby Stride, 0-7. The Clapham AFC fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. Codnor were clearly better and deserved to take the win.