League

Derby Park
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Mezie Roro made the kick off which started today's match. When Oyeyiola Olutola came up free with the goalie in the 4th minute, the Rawmarsh fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Oyeyiola Olutola couldn't finish the play. If Mezie Roro had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 7th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Mudschahid Oloukun received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 8th minute. Manga Lartey tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Manga Lartey took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Oyeyiola Olutola, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The supporters of Rawmarsh booed when Derby AFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 11 match minutes in a wonderful position. Emmanuel Okon Alechenu didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 12th minute, Oyeyiola Olutola ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Manga Lartey was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. The referee felt a red card was in order, 18 minutes into the game, when Noma Sunday put in a rough tackle. In the 18th minute, one of Rawmarsh:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Rawmarsh. A collision led to Rawmarsh getting a freekick after 25 minutes play. Chuma Wambai hit a great ball. In the 26th minute of the match Dahiru Khumbotso sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Gozie Obikwelu skillfully saved the ball. Derby AFC's Manga Lartey played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Oyeyiola Olutola in the 27th minute of play. Mezie Roro fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 32nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Gozie Obikwelu having to interfere. Rawmarsh's Gozie Obikwelu proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 38th minute of the match, managed to save Rawmarsh from getting a goal against them. The supporters of Derby AFC booed when Rawmarsh was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 43 match minutes in a wonderful position. Abasi Orumah didn't get a good kick on the ball. Shola Achebo recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 45th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Oyeyiola Olutola to strike the kick off in the second half. With his leg Manga Lartey managed to avoid a goal in the 53rdth minute, when Rawmarsh's Oyeyiola Olutola fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. In the 55th minute Mezie Roro shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Gozie Obikwelu saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When Moses Kallamu fell near the penalty area in the 58th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Derby AFC's protests and gave Moses Kallamu a yellow card for diving instead. In the 58th minute, Moses Kallamu hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The attack was good, but when Mezie Roro in the 63rd minute was about to shoot he didn't kick quite good enough and the ball went high over goal. Derby AFC's Manga Lartey proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 65th minute of the match, managed to save Derby AFC from getting a goal against them. Chiazagomekpele Aiyetan hit a great freekick 66 minutes into the match. Mezie Roro fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 81st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Gozie Obikwelu having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Mezie Roro in the 83rd minute of play forced Rawmarsh's goalkeeper Gozie Obikwelu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Oyeyiola Olutola sent away a hard shot on goal in the 86th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Rawmarsh's Gozie Obikwelu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mezie Roro in the 91st minute of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 93rd minute, Mezie Roro managed to get in a good position for a shot. Derby AFC's supporters rose to their feet, but Mezie Roro was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Gozie Obikwelu breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. An unexpectedly hard shot by Mezie Roro in the 97th minute of play forced Rawmarsh's goalkeeper Gozie Obikwelu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The second half was just like the first, even and exciting. The match ended in a draw.