League

Birch House
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Graeme Upson took the kick off in the first half of the match. The supporters of Birch House FC booed when Eastbourne was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 2 match minutes in a wonderful position. Iain Merrill didn't get a good kick on the ball. Birch House FC's Will Platt was standing unmarked in front of the goal when he, in the 5th play minute, got the ball and easily drilled it into the goal. Mickey Ginn made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Fred Wishart in the 8th minute of play. 14 minutes into the match, Graeme Upson notched a goal, 1-1, to the right of Birch House FC's Mickey Ginn. Mickey Ginn was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. 20 minutes into the match, Eastbourne's goal looked a bit too open when Russell Staple came free, but Daryl White reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Birch House FC's zone, Fred Wishart stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Mickey Ginn came out of the goal and Fred Wishart tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 29th minute, Graeme Upson 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. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Fred Wishart in the 31st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Mickey Ginn saved Birch House FC from getting behind. Mickey Ginn showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Graeme Upson in the 32nd minute of the match. In the 35th minute, Sebastian Warnett hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Russell Staple blasted a shot towards the goal in the 38th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Daryl White having to make a save. Will Platt succeeded to score despite a near miss that spronge from right pole into the goal to 2-1 in the 38th playminute. In the 45th minute Fred Wishart shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Mickey Ginn saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Af the end of the first half the score was 2-1. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

The wind increased when Russell Staple made the kick off in the second half. Birch House FC's Mickey Ginn played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Graeme Upson in the 54th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Russell Staple in the 55th minute of play forced Eastbourne's goalkeeper Daryl White to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Eastbourne's zone, Will Platt stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Daryl White came out of the goal and Will Platt tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 68th minute, Graeme Upson managed to get in a good position for a shot. Eastbourne's supporters rose to their feet, but Graeme Upson was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Mickey Ginn breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Graeme Upson received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 72nd minute. Mickey Ginn tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Graeme Upson in the 74th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Mickey Ginn prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After a rather tough play, Birch House FC's Benji Haines got a free kick in the 75th minute. After having played for 78 minutes, Russell Staple managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Birch House FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Russell Staple was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Russell Staple blasted a shot towards the goal in the 85th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Daryl White having to make a save. Mickey Ginn showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Graeme Upson, who was totally free with the ball in the 89th minute. After having played for 90 minutes, Fred Wishart managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Eastbourne's supporters crossed their fingers, but Fred Wishart was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After a defensive mix-up in Birch House FC's zone, Graeme Upson stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Mickey Ginn came out of the goal and Graeme Upson tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Graeme Upson in the 97th minute of play forced Birch House FC's goalkeeper Mickey Ginn to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Birch House FC's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.