League

Micklefield
Spectators: 6701 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1701, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Cliff Bond kicked off to start the match. Buster Berryman fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 13th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jason Rawlings having to interfere. John Higgins fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 18th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jason Rawlings having to interfere. Wayne Routledge received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 22nd minute. Jason Rawlings tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Jason Rawlings made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from John Higgins in the 25th minute of play. Through an outstanding action, after 27 minutes, Jason Rawlings successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. In the 32nd minute of the match Francis Banks sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Marlon Bridgeman skillfully saved the ball. A collision led to Micklefield getting a freekick after 34 minutes play. Buster Berryman hit a great ball. Shane Faulkner, 35 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. In the 40thth minute of the game Cliff Bond who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Micklefield's Marlon Bridgeman was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Nigel Sheringham blasted a shot towards the goal in the 42nd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Marlon Bridgeman having to make a save. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when John Higgins stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Micklefield's Marlon Bridgeman played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Peter Ellis in the 51st minute of play. 52 minutes into the match, Micklefield's goal looked a bit too open when Brandon Stockton came free, but Marlon Bridgeman reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Peter Ellis received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 53rd minute. Marlon Bridgeman tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Wayne Routledge came up free with the goalie in the 60th minute, the Micklefield 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 Wayne Routledge couldn't finish the play. Cliff Bond sent away a hard shot on goal in the 66th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 68 minutes into the match, Black Country's Cliff Bond sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Marlon Bridgeman narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After a rather tough play, Micklefield's Luke Norton got a free kick in the 69th minute. Cliff Bond fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 70th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Marlon Bridgeman having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in Black Country's zone, Wayne Routledge stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Jason Rawlings came out of the goal and Wayne Routledge tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Black Country's Jason Rawlings played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Wayne Routledge in the 76th minute of play. Marlon Bridgeman took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cliff Bond, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Nigel Sheringham could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 93rd minute of the match, but Marlon Bridgeman made a huge save. Nigel Sheringham sent away a hard shot on goal in the 96th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. The Micklefield supporters were disappointed that their team didn't take anything from the match, despite matching Black Country's performance. The match ended with a win for Black Country.