League

Stocksbridge Park
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Helsby's Sly Dixon started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. When Stocksbridge FC's Cliff Paley in the 5th minute got a chance for a shot 5th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Helsby's goalie prevented a goal. A collision led to Helsby getting a freekick after 7 minutes play. Mark Revell hit a great ball. The corner led to Stocksbridge FC's Kevin Aspinall getting away a dangerous shot that went just outside the goal. 12 minutes into the game, Cliff Paley recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Sacha Dlyan. Cliff Paley showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-0. After a defensive mix-up in Helsby's zone, Verne Brennan stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Sacha Dlyan came out of the goal and Verne Brennan tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 24 minutes into the match, Helsby's Sly Dixon sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Jude Sykes narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Gaz Draper kicked well hit freekick during the 25th minute of the match. When Verne Brennan came up free with the goalie in the 31st minute, the Stocksbridge FC 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 Verne Brennan couldn't finish the play. An unexpected shot in the 36th minute by Cliff Paley got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. Caleb Middleton received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 46th minute. Jude Sykes tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Cliff Paley was the one to do the kick off. Allan Aldridge took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 57th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Sacha Dlyan. Helsby's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. In the 61st minute, Gaz Draper hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Cliff Paley had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 63rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Caleb Middleton had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 65th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 73 minutes, Sly Dixon made it 3-1 with a short kick to the right side. Stocksbridge FC's Jude Sykes tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. When Sly Dixon came up free with the goalie in the 78th minute, the Helsby 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 Sly Dixon couldn't finish the play. In the 84th minute, Verne Brennan ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Sacha Dlyan was frozen by the shot and now it was 4-1. After having played for 88 minutes, Cliff Paley managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Stocksbridge FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Cliff Paley was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. When Stocksbridge FC's Verne Brennan in the 89th minute got a chance for a shot 89th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Helsby's goalie prevented a goal. Helsby's Sacha Dlyan played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Verne Brennan in the 92nd minute of play. In the 95th minute Verne Brennan shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Sacha Dlyan saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 96 minutes into the match, Stocksbridge FC's Cliff Paley sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Sacha Dlyan narrowly saved just below the crossbar. It was no surprise that this one had ended in a win for the home team. Stocksbridge FC had played much better football throughout.