League

Rudston
Spectators: 7292 (Terracing: 5581, Seating: 1711, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Jez Beardsley started the match with the kick off. 4 minutes into the match, Ninfield's goal looked a bit too open when Marcus Albright came free, but Deon Joynes reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 11th minute Marcus Albright shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Deon Joynes saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Marcus Albright fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 12th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Deon Joynes having to interfere. Marcus Albright's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Deon Joynes read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 17th minute of play. 18 minutes into the match, Ninfield's goal looked a bit too open when Marcus Albright came free, but Deon Joynes reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Shawn Drake's late challenge caught a Rudston's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Shawn Drake helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Rudston booed when Ninfield was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 19 match minutes in a wonderful position. Shawn Drake didn't get a good kick on the ball. Rudston's Marcus Albright got a good chance for a goal in the 20th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After 24 minutes of play Ninfield's Shawn Drake was too eager in his attempt to stop his opponent and brought him down. With that he got his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. Shawn Drake kicked well hit freekick during the 25th minute of the match. Ninfield's Deon Joynes played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Marcus Albright in the 30th minute of play. Brendon Meade received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 35th minute. Jeff Martin tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Jez Beardsley hit a great freekick 41 minutes into the match. 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 home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Roy Pitt was the one to do the kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Marcus Albright in the 52nd minute of play forced Ninfield's goalkeeper Deon Joynes to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Roy Pitt sent away a hard shot on goal in the 53rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 61st minute, Adrian Bakewell 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. Rudston's Nicky Hollingsworth was substituted for Ollie Goldsmith. 64 minutes into the match, Rudston's goalkeeper Jeff Martin had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Brendon Meade. The audience was convinced that Roy Pitt's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Deon Joynes was relentless in the 67th minute of the game. Brendon Meade sent away a hard shot on goal in the 68th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Deon Joynes made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Roy Pitt in the 72nd minute of play. 74 minutes into the game, Rudston's Roy Pitt nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Deon Joynes made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0. Deon Joynes made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Roy Pitt in the 84th minute of play. Marcus Albright took the ball and in the 86 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Deon Joynes. Deon Joynes dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-0. After 89 played minutes Rudston got a freekick which was hit by Nicky Hollingsworth. 95 minutes into the match, Ninfield's goal looked a bit too open when Marcus Albright came free, but Deon Joynes reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The audience was convinced that Roy Pitt's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Deon Joynes was relentless in the 97th minute of the game. Ninfield's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.