League

Chapel en le frith P
Spectators: 6691 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1691, VIP seats: 0) Marcus Ackroyd started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. After 6 played minutes Widnes got a freekick which was hit by Martyn Goldsmith. Paul Whieldon could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 7th minute of the match, but Brett Lemerond made a huge save. Martyn Goldsmith fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 9th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dale Beresford having to interfere. 14 minutes into the match, Marcus Ackroyd had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Dale Beresford. Chapel en le frith's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Marcus Ackroyd was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. In the 19th minute, Marcus Ackroyd ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Dale Beresford was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-2. After 26 minutes Widnes's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Martyn Wiltshire who took care of the corner kick. Martyn Wiltshire made a great header on Chapel en le frith's corner, it was just that Widnes's Brett Lemerond managed to reach the ball for a save. Marcus Ackroyd sent away a hard shot on goal in the 28th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 33rd minute, Chapel en le frith's Marek Denham ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Brett Lemerond. Brett Lemerond yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-2. The supporters of Chapel en le frith booed when Widnes was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 38 match minutes in a wonderful position. Jo Longstaff didn't get a good kick on the ball. With his leg Brett Lemerond managed to avoid a goal in the 41stth minute, when Chapel en le frith's Paul Whieldon fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. If Martyn Goldsmith had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 43rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Marek Denham in the 47th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Brett Lemerond prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Disappointed in the 1-2 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 Marek Denham stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. 51 minutes into the game, Widnes's Jo Longstaff nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Dale Beresford made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-3. If Marcus Ackroyd had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 59th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Martyn Goldsmith received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 61st minute. Dale Beresford tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Hayden Rothwell's late challenge caught a Widnes's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Hayden Rothwell helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Widnes booed when Chapel en le frith was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 62 match minutes in a wonderful position. Hayden Rothwell didn't get a good kick on the ball. Paul Whieldon might have been able to make a better finish in the 65th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Brett Lemerond. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Paul Whieldon ran back to his position shaking his head. Marek Denham blasted a shot towards the goal in the 70th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Brett Lemerond having to make a save. In the 72nd minute Paul Whieldon shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Brett Lemerond saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Paul Whieldon had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 75th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After some fancy dribbling in the 80th minute, Martyn Goldsmith managed to get in a good position for a shot. Widnes's supporters rose to their feet, but Martyn Goldsmith was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Dale Beresford breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Marcus Ackroyd fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 82nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dale Beresford having to interfere. Martyn Goldsmith's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 84thth minute, Dale Beresford skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. After a rather tough play, Chapel en le frith's Simon Beale got a free kick in the 84th minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Martyn Goldsmith got free with Dale Beresford in the 85th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Marcus Ackroyd fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 87th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dale Beresford having to interfere. Marek Denham recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 90th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After some fancy dribbling in the 93rd minute, Marcus Ackroyd managed to get in a good position for a shot. Widnes's supporters rose to their feet, but Marcus Ackroyd was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Dale Beresford breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After 95 minutes, Benji Stockton mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Widnes and the Chapel en le frith players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to Widnes getting a freekick after 95 minutes play. Benji Stockton hit a great ball. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Widnes eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.