League

The Animal Arena
Spectators: 7561 (Terracing: 5672, Seating: 1738, VIP seats: 151) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Chip Ealham got the match started through his kick off. A collision led to Zoo fc getting a freekick after 3 minutes play. Jon Bentham hit a great ball. 4 minutes into the match, South Ockendon's Gerry Eagles broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. After 6 minutes of play, Zoo fc's John Paul Brookes made it 1-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. John Manson was left in no man's land by his defense there! Benjamin Smith received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 9th minute. John Manson tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Benjamin Smith succeeded in the game's 11th minute to shoot an unreachable shot under the crossbar and scored - 2-0. In the 19th minute of the match Antony Osbon shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but John Manson showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. South Ockendon's Thomas Lemerond got a good chance for a goal in the 27th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Benjamin Smith's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but John Manson read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 30th minute of play. Dominic Houghton didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Thomas Lemerond went, in the 34th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-1 was the resulting score. When Denny Hawkins fell near the penalty area in the 36th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored South Ockendon's protests and gave Denny Hawkins a yellow card for diving instead. The audience held their breath when Orson Furlong in the 39th minute of the game managed to trick the opponents defenses and fired away a shot outside the goal on the John Manson's left hand side. The supporters of Zoo fc booed when South Ockendon was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 40 match minutes in a wonderful position. Grant Woodhall didn't get a good kick on the ball. John Paul Brookes scored 3-1 in the 44th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of John Manson, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Af the end of the first half the score was 3-1. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. John Paul Brookes was the one to do the kick off. With a couple of smart ball manuevers John Paul Brookes in the 51st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg John Manson saved South Ockendon from getting behind. Louis Frizzell recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 53rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. When Grant Woodhall fell near the penalty area in the 53rd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored South Ockendon's protests and gave Grant Woodhall a yellow card for diving instead. In the 54th match minute, South Ockendon was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Grant Woodhall to maneuver through the defense. The supporters of Zoo fc booed when South Ockendon was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 56 match minutes in a wonderful position. Dominik Ainsworth didn't get a good kick on the ball. Dominic Houghton showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Chip Ealham, who was totally free with the ball in the 60th minute. Dominic Houghton made an important save on a dangerous shot by Thomas Lemerond in the 62nd minute. Dominic Houghton made an important save on a dangerous shot by Thomas Lemerond in the 64th minute. John Paul Brookes fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 66th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without John Manson having to interfere. Dominic Houghton took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Chip Ealham, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. John Paul Brookes struck a weak shot in the 75th minute. John Manson didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Zoo fc. South Ockendon's Thomas Lemerond got a good chance for a goal in the 78th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. John Paul Brookes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 79th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Glen Fawell kicked well hit freekick during the 82nd minute of the match. If John Paul Brookes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 85th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 89th match minute, Zoo fc was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Darius Pyrah to maneuver through the defense. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Chip Ealham in the 96th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Dominic Houghton saved Zoo fc from getting behind.