League

Essex Arena
Spectators: 5150 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 150) Graeme Saville started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Brynn Wiley showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Graeme Saville, who was totally free with the ball in the 9th minute. Thomas Bond hit a great freekick 13 minutes into the match. Vance Sheldon sent away a hard shot on goal in the 15th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Brynn Wiley made a fantastic save in the 17th minute, when Vance Sheldon sent off a good shot on target. Damion Preece received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 19th minute. Eddie Hargrave tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in Essex Gang's zone, Damion Preece stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Eddie Hargrave came out of the goal and Damion Preece tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 27th minute Graeme Saville shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Brynn Wiley saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ronny Sheringham hit a great freekick 28 minutes into the match. Vance Sheldon fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 31st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Brynn Wiley having to interfere. Brynn Wiley took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Graeme Saville, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Vance Sheldon recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 36th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After a defensive mix-up in ISLAHIYE's zone, Vance Sheldon stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Brynn Wiley came out of the goal and Vance Sheldon tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The crowd rose to their feet as Essex Gang's Graeme Saville slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Brynn Wiley. That made the score 1-0 after 41 minutes of play. In the 45th minute, Vance Sheldon got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Damion Preece to make the kick off. In the 52nd minute, Brendon Gale hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Chaz McCartney during the 57th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 57 played minutes Essex Gang got a freekick which was hit by Chaz McCartney. After some fancy dribbling in the 58th minute, Sol Rowett managed to get in a good position for a shot. ISLAHIYE's supporters rose to their feet, but Sol Rowett was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Eddie Hargrave breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Ed Strongman during the 65th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The supporters of Essex Gang booed when ISLAHIYE was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 65 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ed Strongman didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 66th match minute, ISLAHIYE was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Gav Harding to maneuver through the defense. Sol Rowett hit a great freekick 68 minutes into the match. After having played for 70 minutes, Jools Cole managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Essex Gang's supporters crossed their fingers, but Jools Cole was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Vance Sheldon fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 73rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Brynn Wiley having to interfere. Graeme Saville scored 2-0 in the 76th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Brynn Wiley, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. The supporters of ISLAHIYE booed when Essex Gang was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 83 match minutes in a wonderful position. Brendon Gale didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Damion Preece had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 87th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Eddie Hargrave made an important save on a dangerous shot by Alf Shepherd in the 90th minute. If Graeme Saville had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 96th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. For all the effort they put into the match, the ISLAHIYE players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Essex Gang.