League

South Shields
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Michael Tolley took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 4th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Vince Piercy. South Shields's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. A collision led to Stevenage getting a freekick after 7 minutes play. Phil West hit a great ball. Neil Slade struck a weak shot in the 8th minute. Christopher Woodhead didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for South Shields. South Shields's Stuart Welch got a good chance for a goal in the 9th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Vince Piercy didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Lewis Radcliffe went, in the 11th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. Franz Prutton's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Vince Piercy read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 14th minute of play. Vince Piercy took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lewis Radcliffe, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Stuart Welch sent away a hard shot on goal in the 16th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When Neil Slade came up free with the goalie in the 18th minute, the South Shields 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 Neil Slade couldn't finish the play. After 20 played minutes Stevenage got a freekick which was hit by Lewis Radcliffe. In the 22nd minute Phil West shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Vince Piercy saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Vince Piercy made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lewis Radcliffe in the 23rd minute of play. Neil Slade recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 30th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 42nd minute, Stuart Welch ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Christopher Woodhead was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-2. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

Christopher Woodhead showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Neil Slade in the 51st minute of the match. When Stuart Welch came up free with the goalie in the 53rd minute, the South Shields 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 Stuart Welch couldn't finish the play. After having played for 55 minutes, Neil Slade managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. South Shields's supporters crossed their fingers, but Neil Slade was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After some fancy dribbling in the 56th minute, Neil Slade managed to get in a good position for a shot. South Shields's supporters rose to their feet, but Neil Slade was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Christopher Woodhead breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 58thth minute of the game Neil Slade who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Stevenage's Christopher Woodhead was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Neil Slade in the 64th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Christopher Woodhead prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Stuart Welch struck a weak shot in the 65th minute. Christopher Woodhead didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for South Shields. After 66 minutes of play, South Shields's Neil Slade made it 3-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Christopher Woodhead was left in no man's land by his defense there! After a defensive mix-up in Stevenage's zone, Neil Slade stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Christopher Woodhead came out of the goal and Neil Slade tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Stevenage's Christopher Woodhead played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Neil Slade in the 73rd minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in South Shields's zone, Phil West stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Vince Piercy came out of the goal and Phil West tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 77thth minute of the game Stuart Welch who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Stevenage's Christopher Woodhead was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. The audience was convinced that Neil Slade's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Christopher Woodhead was relentless in the 78th minute of the game. Cliff Stockdale recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 84th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 87th minute Phil West shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Vince Piercy saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 89 played minutes Stevenage got a freekick which was hit by Michael Tolley. Jeremy Weston charged in rather forcefully in the 91st minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Jeremy Weston the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 92nd minute, Jeremy Weston hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. An unexpectedly hard shot by Phil West in the 96th minute of play forced South Shields's goalkeeper Vince Piercy to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. South Shields walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.