League

Valkeakoski
Spectators: 5200 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1200, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Rio Ricketts got the match started through his kick off. The supporters of Bury St Edmunds booed when Maplin FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 3 match minutes in a wonderful position. Luke Quantrill didn't get a good kick on the ball. Gav Davis came out of the goal in the 11th minute to try and stop a shot by Bury St Edmunds's Austen Francis. But to his dismay, Austen Francis quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. If Guy Commons had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 14th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Guy Commons got free in front of the goal in the 16th minute he wasn't very focused and chipped the ball just over the goal. Kieran Edmunds was delighted since he was out of position and the ball would have got in if it had gone under the crossbar. Nick East who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 18thth minute tested the skills of Kieran Edmunds when he managed to save the team from getting behind. If Nick East had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 25th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Maplin FC's Carl Bridge got a good chance for a goal in the 26th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The supporters of Maplin FC booed when Bury St Edmunds was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 30 match minutes in a wonderful position. Max Simms didn't get a good kick on the ball. Kieran Edmunds showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Carl Bridge, who was totally free with the ball in the 33rd minute. 35 minutes into the match, Bury St Edmunds's Austen Francis sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Gav Davis narrowly saved just below the crossbar. 38 minutes into the match, Bury St Edmunds's goalkeeper Kieran Edmunds had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Nick East. With a little luck, Bury St Edmunds's Kieran Edmunds got control of the ball when Nick East tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 44th play minute Nick East came free and shot an unsuspected shot which went into goal from the right pole behind a surprised Kieran Edmunds. 1-1. 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 Nick East stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. 52 minutes into the match, Bury St Edmunds's goal looked a bit too open when Nick East came free, but Kieran Edmunds reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After having played for 53 minutes, Carl Bridge managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Maplin FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Carl Bridge was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Kieran Edmunds made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nick East in the 69th minute of play. In the 71st minute Rio Ricketts shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Gav Davis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 73rd minute, Maplin FC's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Rio Ricketts fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. In the 75th minute, Nick East ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Kieran Edmunds was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-1. In the 83rd minute Rio Ricketts shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Gav Davis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Bury St Edmunds's Kieran Edmunds played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Nick East in the 84th minute of play. When Maplin FC's Nick East in the 86th minute got a chance for a shot 86th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Bury St Edmunds's goalie prevented a goal. After 88 played minutes Bury St Edmunds got a freekick which was hit by Rio Ricketts. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Guy Commons in the 91st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Kieran Edmunds saved Bury St Edmunds from getting behind. In the 92nd minute, Nick East left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Maplin FC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 3-1. The audience thought a goal was coming when Austen Francis got free with Gav Davis in the 96th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. It was no surprise that this one had ended in a win for the home team. Maplin FC had played much better football throughout.