League

Zanzibar Central
Spectators: 7405 (Terracing: 5629, Seating: 1726, VIP seats: 50) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Philip Welch started the match with the kick off. Jeff Meehan hit a great freekick 6 minutes into the match. A collision led to Zanzibar FC getting a freekick after 7 minutes play. Dion Burnham hit a great ball. When Kristopher Mann fell near the penalty area in the 9th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored North Stars's protests and gave Kristopher Mann a yellow card for diving instead. Kristopher Mann hit a great freekick 9 minutes into the match. Matthew Francis took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Philip Welch, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Kristopher Mann took the ball and in the 16 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Tod Wilmott. Tod Wilmott dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. North Stars's Matthew Francis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Philip Welch in the 20th minute of play. Max Denham in the 21stth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Matthew Francis, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. After having played for 31 minutes, Bryan Pell managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. North Stars's supporters crossed their fingers, but Bryan Pell was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. If Kristopher Mann had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 32nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 33 played minutes Zanzibar FC got a freekick which was hit by Matt Poynton. Bryan Pell sent away a hard shot on goal in the 35th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Matthew Francis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Philip Welch in the 37th minute of play. Jeff Meehan charged in rather forcefully in the 38th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Jeff Meehan the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 38th match minute, North Stars was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jeff Meehan to maneuver through the defense. Bryan Pell fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 41st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Tod Wilmott having to interfere. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Bryan Pell was the one to do the kick off. 58 minutes into the match, Zanzibar FC's goal looked a bit too open when Bryan Pell came free, but Tod Wilmott reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Zanzibar FC's Dion Burnham got a good chance for a goal in the 60th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 61st match minute, North Stars was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Graham Short to maneuver through the defense. Matthew Francis showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Philip Welch in the 62nd minute of the match. In the 64th minute Max Denham shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Matthew Francis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 65th minute, Philip Welch managed to get in a good position for a shot. Zanzibar FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Philip Welch was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Matthew Francis breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 67th minute of the game. One of North Stars:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Zanzibar FC:s goal. In the 69th minute there was a penalty for Zanzibar FC. Tom Owen stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Matthew Francis. 2-1. Zanzibar FC's Tod Wilmott played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Bryan Pell in the 83rd minute of play. Philip Welch's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Matthew Francis read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 91st minute of play. In the 94th minute, Kristopher Mann made a precise shot to the right of Tod Wilmott. Zanzibar FC's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-2. If Philip Welch had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 99th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Neither set of supporters seemed pleased with the draw, but both teams had played equally well today.