League

Finchley
Spectators: 6727 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1727, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Oscar Cook started the match with the kick off. After a defensive mix-up in Finchley AFC's zone, Ashley Whitman stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Walter Hewitt came out of the goal and Ashley Whitman tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Walter Hewitt showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ashley Whitman, who was totally free with the ball in the 10th minute. When Steven Linford fell near the penalty area in the 10th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Finchley AFC's protests and gave Steven Linford a yellow card for diving instead. Steven Linford hit a great freekick 10 minutes into the match. After a defensive mix-up in Finchley AFC's zone, Ashley Whitman stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Walter Hewitt came out of the goal and Ashley Whitman tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Ashley Whitman fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 17th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Walter Hewitt having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Bill Granville in the 21st minute of play forced Finchley AFC's goalkeeper Walter Hewitt to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 24th minute, Rich West hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Ashley Whitman in the 27th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Walter Hewitt saved Finchley AFC from getting behind. Oscar Cook blasted a shot towards the goal in the 29th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Kieran Bastow having to make a save. In the 32nd minute Oscar Cook shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Kieran Bastow saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Walter Hewitt took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ashley Whitman, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 34 played minutes Finchley AFC got a freekick which was hit by Simon Griffiths. Walter Hewitt showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Bill Granville in the 35th minute of the match. Bill Granville recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 37th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Dale Corcoran hit a great freekick 38 minutes into the match. A collision led to Welwyn Garden City FC getting a freekick after 41 minutes play. Charles Farrell hit a great ball. Kieran Bastow acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 42nd minute, took the ball on the long shot from Mick Stamer. Oscar Cook sent away a hard shot on goal in the 43rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 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.

Welwyn Garden City FC's Ashley Whitman got a good chance for a goal in the 61st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. 63 minutes into the match, Welwyn Garden City FC's Bill Granville sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Walter Hewitt narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 68th minute, Ashley Whitman 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. 70 minutes into the match Ashley Whitman climbed in front of goal and pressed up 0-1 in the right cross behind a totally surprised Walter Hewitt. Through an outstanding action, after 75 minutes, Walter Hewitt successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. After a rather tough play, Finchley AFC's Rupert Burnett got a free kick in the 79th minute. Bill Granville received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 80th minute. Walter Hewitt tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 86th minute, Oscar Cook left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Finchley AFC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. Walter Hewitt showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Bill Granville in the 91st minute of the match. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 94th minute of the game. One of Finchley AFC:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Welwyn Garden City FC:s goal. In the 97th minute, Welwyn Garden City FC got a penalty, and Brandon Mansell placed the ball unsaveable into goal, by the right post. Welwyn Garden City FC's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.