League

Ditchling Lane
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Sunderland's Brett Horner 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. The supporters of Sunderland booed when Zenith FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 2 match minutes in a wonderful position. Danny Friebe didn't get a good kick on the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 7th minute, Des Timmins managed to get in a good position for a shot. Sunderland's supporters rose to their feet, but Des Timmins was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Eddy Soares breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Brett Horner sent away a hard shot on goal in the 10th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Damion Poynton fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 12th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without CJ Sheehan having to interfere. After 14 played minutes Zenith FC got a freekick which was hit by Karl Mortimer. Eddy Soares made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Des Timmins in the 15th minute of play. When Des Timmins came up free with the goalie in the 17th minute, the Sunderland 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 Des Timmins couldn't finish the play. Danny Friebe's late challenge caught a Sunderland's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Danny Friebe helped the player get up and apologised. Danny Friebe hit a great freekick 18 minutes into the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Damion Poynton got free with CJ Sheehan in the 20th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After 21 played minutes Sunderland got a freekick which was hit by Basil Pearce. Seth Lightfoot succeeded in the game's 24th minute to shoot an unreachable shot under the crossbar and scored - 1-0. 28 minutes into the match, Zenith FC's goal looked a bit too open when Brett Horner came free, but Eddy Soares reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 30 played minutes, Sunderland's Damon Byrne shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Eddy Soares came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Sunderland reached it. With a little luck, Sunderland's CJ Sheehan got control of the ball when Damion Poynton tried to sneak it across the goal line. When the match had gone on for 34 minutes, Seth Lightfoot took a quick shot and it went in 2-0 without a chance for CJ Sheehan to make any attempt to save it. Ian Bakewell kicked well hit freekick during the 37th minute of the match. CJ Sheehan made a fantastic save in the 40th minute, when Damion Poynton sent off a good shot on target. If Damion Poynton had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 41st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Damion Poynton came up free with the goalie in the 45th minute, the Zenith 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 Damion Poynton couldn't finish the play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Seth Lightfoot in the 46th minute of play forced Sunderland's goalkeeper CJ Sheehan to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Seth Lightfoot sent away a hard shot on goal in the 48th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance.

In the 53rd match minute, Sunderland was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Brendon Fairfax to maneuver through the defense. After recieving a nice pass, Zenith FC's Karl Mortimer tried to score from far away in the 54th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Brett Horner in the 57th minute of play forced Zenith FC's goalkeeper Eddy Soares to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 59th match minute, Zenith FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Seth Lightfoot to maneuver through the defense. If Brett Horner had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 62nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Seth Lightfoot had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 66th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Damion Poynton in the 68th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg CJ Sheehan saved Sunderland from getting behind. An unexpectedly hard shot by Brett Horner in the 69th minute of play forced Zenith FC's goalkeeper Eddy Soares to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Seth Lightfoot had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 70th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Sunderland's CJ Sheehan played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Damion Poynton in the 72nd minute of play. Eddy Soares made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Brett Horner in the 74th minute of play. If Des Timmins had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 76th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Eddy Soares made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Brett Horner in the 78th minute of play. After a rather tough play, Zenith FC's Danny Friebe got a free kick in the 81st minute. Sunderland's CJ Sheehan played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Seth Lightfoot in the 83rd minute of play. Seth Lightfoot received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 85th minute. CJ Sheehan tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Seth Lightfoot in the 87th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg CJ Sheehan saved Sunderland from getting behind. In the 94th minute, Damion Poynton 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. There was no doubt that Zenith FC were the better team. Zenith FC's players enjoyed the ovations of the crowd after the victory.