League

Westhoughton
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Roger Dryden got the match started through his kick off. In the 4th minute, Chris Carlisle hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The long shot by Simon Spurgeon in the 5th minute really tested Dennis Firth's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal. Roger Dryden received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 7th minute. Dennis Firth tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Connor Sills during the 9th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. A hard shot by Simon Spurgeon from long distance, 9 minutes into the match, got Dennis Firth's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. Cliff Cox received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 12th minute. Dennis Firth tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Dennis Firth made an important save on a dangerous shot by Roger Dryden in the 14th minute. 16 minutes into the game, Cliff Cox recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Dennis Firth. Cliff Cox showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-0. Cliff Cox received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 21st minute. Dennis Firth tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 22nd match minute, The Rangers FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Lance Miller to maneuver through the defense. A collision led to Manchester United getting a freekick after 26 minutes play. Rufus Ellis hit a great ball. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Duncan Nevin in the 27th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Thom Lineker saved Manchester United from getting behind. Gwyn Bell took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 29th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Dennis Firth. The Rangers FC's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. The Rangers FC's Dennis Firth played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cliff Cox in the 32nd minute of play. Duncan Nevin hit a great freekick 33 minutes into the match. Lance Miller might have been able to make a better finish in the 35th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Thom Lineker. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Lance Miller ran back to his position shaking his head. Thom Lineker made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Duncan Nevin in the 36th minute of play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Gus Dunn during the 37th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The Rangers FC's Connor Sills got a good chance for a goal in the 38th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. 40 minutes into the game, Duncan Nevin cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-1. Thom Lineker was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. If Duncan Nevin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 45th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Connor Sills stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Dennis Firth took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cliff Cox, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Connor Sills in the 56th minute of play forced Manchester United's goalkeeper Thom Lineker to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a rather tough play, The Rangers FC's Duncan Nevin got a free kick in the 58th minute. Connor Sills was extremely unlucky when he, in the 61st minute, took a shot that hit the right post and went out. Roger Dryden sent away a hard shot on goal in the 64th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Duncan Nevin struck a weak shot in the 75th minute. Thom Lineker didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for The Rangers FC. Dennis Firth showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cliff Cox, who was totally free with the ball in the 79th minute. If Cliff Cox had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 89th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Lance Miller kicked well hit freekick during the 92nd minute of the match. 95 minutes into the match, Manchester United's goal looked a bit too open when Connor Sills came free, but Thom Lineker reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Duncan Nevin got free with Thom Lineker in the 97th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The teams fought very hard right up to the final whistle. Both sets of players were happy to go away with a draw.