League

The Ethihad
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Chip Carey took the kick off in the first half of the match. Kristian Cain showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Blair Howarth, who was totally free with the ball in the 8th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Chip Carey in the 14th minute of play forced Blackpool United's goalkeeper Micheal Hurst to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When Chip Carey came up free with the goalie in the 17th minute, the Manchester 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 Chip Carey couldn't finish the play. Nath Gildea received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 22nd minute. Kristian Cain tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 26 minutes into the match, Manchester City's Lloyd Alsford sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Micheal Hurst narrowly saved just below the crossbar. 32 minutes had been played when some careless play by Manchester City's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Philip Askew was slow to take the kick. During this time Blackpool United's players had a chance to rest. It was a well-played corner which Alex Theobald managed to volley towards the net. Unfortunately, he didn't get a great hit on the ball and it went out into the grandstand. After a rather tough play, Manchester City's Teddy Bishop got a free kick in the 36th minute. 40 minutes into the game, Chip Carey recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Micheal Hurst. Chip Carey showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-0. Mike Searle charged in rather forcefully in the 43rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Mike Searle the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 45 minutes, Chip Carey mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Manchester City and the Blackpool United players grew even worse after the yellow card. After a rather tough play, Manchester City's Chip Carey got a free kick in the 45th minute. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 1-0.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Nath Gildea to strike the kick off in the second half. Charlie Frost's late challenge caught a Manchester City's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Charlie Frost helped the player get up and apologised. Charlie Frost hit a great freekick 52 minutes into the match. After 53 played minutes, Manchester City's Keanu Pickford shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Micheal Hurst came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Manchester City reached it. The audience was convinced that Chip Carey's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Micheal Hurst was relentless in the 54th minute of the game. In the 59th minute of the match Keanu Pickford sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Micheal Hurst skillfully saved the ball. In the 62nd minute the ball was on its way in behind Blackpool United's goalkeeper Micheal Hurst, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After 66 played minutes Blackpool United got a freekick which was hit by Alex Theobald. In the 66th minute of the match Keanu Pickford sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Micheal Hurst skillfully saved the ball. After 74 minutes of play, Manchester City's Chip Carey made it 2-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Micheal Hurst was left in no man's land by his defense there! Lloyd Alsford received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 77th minute. Micheal Hurst tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 78th match minute, Blackpool United was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Charlie Frost to maneuver through the defense. Lloyd Alsford fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 82nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Micheal Hurst having to interfere. When Manchester City's Chip Carey in the 84th minute got a chance for a shot 84th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Blackpool United's goalie prevented a goal. If Lloyd Alsford had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 92nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Micheal Hurst showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Chip Carey in the 95th minute of the match. Manchester City's supporters were highly satisfied with the result. They cheered their team of the pitch, having watched them win a very even match.