League

St Andrews
Spectators: 7278 (Terracing: 5500, Seating: 1728, VIP seats: 50) BIRMINGHAM CITY FC's Martyn Atkins started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Rod Bacon kicked well hit freekick during the 2nd minute of the match. Dedham's Kirk Gibson got a good chance for a goal in the 6th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 8th minute, Fraser Downes 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. Frank Kennedy stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Kirk Gibson's shot from short distance in the 14th minute. Kirk Gibson fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 15th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Frank Kennedy having to interfere. Kirk Gibson might have been able to make a better finish in the 19th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Frank Kennedy. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Kirk Gibson ran back to his position shaking his head. Kirk Gibson fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 24th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Frank Kennedy having to interfere. Marek Lincoln made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Martyn Atkins in the 31st minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in Dedham's zone, Brad Inman stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Marek Lincoln came out of the goal and Brad Inman tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Marek Lincoln took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Martyn Atkins, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 36 minutes of play, Dedham's Kirk Gibson made it 0-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Frank Kennedy was left in no man's land by his defense there! Martyn Atkins sent away a hard shot on goal in the 42nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Frank Kennedy took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Kirk Gibson, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-2.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Fraser Downes stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Kirk Gibson recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 55th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Fraser Downes fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 57th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Frank Kennedy having to interfere. In the 63rd minute, Martyn Atkins left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The BIRMINGHAM CITY FC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-2. Fraser Downes received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 66th minute. Frank Kennedy tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Kirk Gibson recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 68th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After a rather tough play, BIRMINGHAM CITY FC's Owen Rooney got a free kick in the 74th minute. In the 80th minute, Fraser Downes reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Frank Kennedy. The goal made the score 1-3. After some fancy dribbling in the 84th minute, Kirk Gibson managed to get in a good position for a shot. Dedham's supporters rose to their feet, but Kirk Gibson was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Frank Kennedy breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Marek Lincoln took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Brad Inman, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Fraser Downes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 94th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a rather tough play, BIRMINGHAM CITY FC's Guy Izzard got a free kick in the 96th minute. Fraser Downes received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 98th minute. Frank Kennedy tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere.