League

Crewe
Spectators: 7480 (Terracing: 5610, Seating: 1720, VIP seats: 150) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Jez Illingworth took the kick off in the first half of the match. Kirk Jowsey took the ball and in the 7 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Fitz Davey. Fitz Davey dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. The Clarets's Fitz Davey played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ollie Smikle in the 10th minute of play. Jez Illingworth fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 15th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Austin Toovey having to interfere. In the 21st minute of the match Clive Gurney shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Austin Toovey showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. The supporters of The Clarets booed when Arsenal was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 24 match minutes in a wonderful position. Syd Meadowcroft didn't get a good kick on the ball. Clive Gurney kicked well hit freekick during the 26th minute of the match. 28 minutes into the match, Ollie Smikle notched a goal, 0-3, to the right of The Clarets's Fitz Davey. Fitz Davey was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Teddy Gamble during the 37th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 37th minute, Teddy Gamble hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Toby Slater's late challenge caught a Arsenal's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Toby Slater helped the player get up and apologised. Toby Slater kicked well hit freekick during the 41st minute of the match. If Ollie Smikle had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 42nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a defensive mix-up in The Clarets's zone, Ollie Smikle stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Fitz Davey came out of the goal and Ollie Smikle tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 1-4 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

Austin Toovey made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jez Illingworth in the 53rd minute of play. In the 55th match minute, The Clarets was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Hugh Byrom to maneuver through the defense. Kirk Jowsey received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Fitz Davey came out and tried to block the shot, but Kirk Jowsey slotted it home off the left post making it 1-5 in the 56th minute. If Byron Welsh had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 62nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 71st minute Kirk Jowsey shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Fitz Davey saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 74 minutes into the game, Kirk Jowsey recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Fitz Davey. Kirk Jowsey showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-6. The Clarets's Fitz Davey played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Kirk Jowsey in the 78th minute of play. Austin Toovey took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Jez Illingworth, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 83rd minute, Ollie Smikle made a precise shot to the right of Fitz Davey. The Clarets's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-7. In the 87th minute Byron Welsh shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Austin Toovey saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Jez Illingworth scored 2-7 in the 90th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Austin Toovey, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. The Clarets's defense didn't have a chance, in the 95th minute, when Kirk Jowsey scored to the left of an out of position Fitz Davey, making the score, 2-8. Arsenal played a much better game than The Clarets and deserved their victory. The The Clarets players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.