League

Stroud Stadium
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Perry Bowden kicked off to start the match. Chesney Towler showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Perry Bowden in the 8th minute of the match. Nathanial Lamb fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 14th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Frankie Fleetwood having to interfere. When Stroud United's Nathanial Lamb in 15 game minutes managed to cut through with the ball in front of the goal, only having to shoot. Frankie Fleetwood guarding the goal like a pit bull was extremely focused and managed to reach the ball just by the crossbar before it went in. In the 18th minute Perry Bowden 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. Howard Alsford sent away a hard shot on goal in the 19th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After having played for 22 minutes, Rio Shakespeare managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Stroud United's supporters crossed their fingers, but Rio Shakespeare was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. A collision led to Walsall getting a freekick after 23 minutes play. Matthew Knott hit a great ball. Nathanial Lamb sent away a hard shot on goal in the 25th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Walsall's Frankie Fleetwood proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 27th minute of the match, managed to save Walsall from getting a goal against them. Chesney Towler took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Perry Bowden, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. A collision led to Walsall getting a freekick after 33 minutes play. Oscar Goldthorpe hit a great ball. Chesney Towler showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Perry Bowden in the 35th minute of the match. The supporters of Walsall booed when Stroud United was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 35 match minutes in a wonderful position. Tyrone Beverley didn't get a good kick on the ball. Perry Bowden scored 0-1 in the 37th 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. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-1 lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Nathanial Lamb stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Nathanial Lamb sent away a hard shot on goal in the 56th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Rio Shakespeare received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 62nd minute. Frankie Fleetwood tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 66th minute Perry Bowden 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. Nathanial Lamb received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 68th minute. Frankie Fleetwood tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 79th minute, Walsall's Perry Bowden dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 0-2. Frankie Fleetwood took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Rio Shakespeare, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 86th minute Nathanial Lamb shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Frankie Fleetwood saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Howard Alsford's late challenge caught a Stroud United's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Howard Alsford helped the player get up and apologised. In the 88th minute, Howard Alsford hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Nathanial Lamb had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 90th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 95th minute of the match Stroud United got a corner. Walsall's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Teddy Nelson ran over to the corner to take the kick. A well-hit corner resulted in Sean Harper heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. The Walsall supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Walsall would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.