League

Appleshaw
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Nicky Lydiate hit a great freekick 5 minutes into the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Steve Anson got free with Chesney Towler in the 8th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After 12 played minutes Blueocean got a freekick which was hit by Orson Ambrose. In the 14th minute Rio Shakespeare shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tris Pickering saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 18 minutes into the game, Stroud United's Rio Shakespeare nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Tris Pickering made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. Stroud United's Chesney Towler proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 24th minute of the match, managed to save Stroud United from getting a goal against them. Seth Fleetham sent away a hard shot on goal in the 26th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Through an outstanding action, after 28 minutes, Chesney Towler successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. When Seth Fleetham came up free with the goalie in the 30th minute, the Blueocean 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 Seth Fleetham couldn't finish the play. After a rather tough play, Blueocean's Alec Pointon got a free kick in the 33rd minute. After 33 played minutes, Stroud United's Sean Harper shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Tris Pickering 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 Stroud United reached it. 36 minutes into the match, Blueocean's goal looked a bit too open when Rio Shakespeare came free, but Tris Pickering reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 37 minutes into the match, Stroud United's goalkeeper Chesney Towler had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Glenn Mayo. Glenn Mayo scored 1-1 in the 45th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Chesney Towler, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. 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 wind increased when Nathanial Lamb made the kick off in the second half. Blueocean's Alec Pointon got a good chance for a goal in the 55th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. With his leg Tris Pickering managed to avoid a goal in the 58thth minute, when Stroud United's Rio Shakespeare fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Ronny Platt's late challenge caught a Blueocean's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Ronny Platt helped the player get up and apologised. Ronny Platt kicked well hit freekick during the 59th minute of the match. Stroud United's Chesney Towler played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Seth Fleetham in the 64th minute of play. Chesney Towler took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Seth Fleetham, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 73rd minute of the match, Rio Shakespeare got a very nice opportunity to score, but Tris Pickering was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. An unexpectedly hard shot by Seth Fleetham in the 74th minute of play forced Stroud United's goalkeeper Chesney Towler to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Glenn Mayo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 81st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Tris Pickering showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Nathanial Lamb, who was totally free with the ball in the 85th minute. After some fancy dribbling in the 90th minute, Nathanial Lamb managed to get in a good position for a shot. Stroud United's supporters rose to their feet, but Nathanial Lamb was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Tris Pickering breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 93rd minute Glenn Mayo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Chesney Towler saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Seth Fleetham in the 94th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Chesney Towler saved Stroud United from getting behind. Seth Fleetham received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 96th minute. Chesney Towler tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Stroud United succeeded in salvaging a draw, even though Blueocean had controlled the match.