League

Goal Keepers Stadium
Spectators: 7727 (Terracing: 5796, Seating: 1777, VIP seats: 154) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Rick Appleton got the match started through his kick off. After a defensive mix-up in Goal Keepers Academy's zone, Rick Appleton stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Josh McSween came out of the goal and Rick Appleton tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Steven McMurray sent away a hard shot on goal in the 5th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Alisdair McIlvain kicked well hit freekick during the 6th minute of the match. If Vinny McKirdy had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 9th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. A collision led to Portugal Sporting Blue getting a freekick after 22 minutes play. Alisdair McIlvain hit a great ball. Vinny McKirdy sent away a hard shot on goal in the 23rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Steven McMurray recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 33rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. A collision led to Portugal Sporting Blue getting a freekick after 34 minutes play. Ronan Spittel hit a great ball. Goal Keepers Academy's Vinny McKirdy got a good chance for a goal in the 35th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 37th match minute, Portugal Sporting Blue was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alisdair McIlvain to maneuver through the defense. After recieving a nice pass, Goal Keepers Academy's Sean Simson tried to score from far away in the 37th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. After having played for 41 minutes, Vinny McKirdy managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Goal Keepers Academy's supporters crossed their fingers, but Vinny McKirdy was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 48 minutes into the match, Portugal Sporting Blue's goalkeeper Tom Fowler had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Anthony McCanish. The Goal Keepers Academy players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Portugal Sporting Blue were winning 0-1.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Vinny McKirdy to make the kick off. Vinny McKirdy struck a weak shot in the 53rd minute. Tom Fowler didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Goal Keepers Academy. When Goal Keepers Academy's Steven McMurray in the 54th minute got a chance for a shot 54th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Portugal Sporting Blue's goalie prevented a goal. Tom Fowler made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Vinny McKirdy in the 55th minute of play. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Rick Appleton in the 59th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Josh McSween prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After 67 played minutes Portugal Sporting Blue got a freekick which was hit by Alisdair McIlvain. An unexpectedly hard shot by Miles Sinclair in the 69th minute of play forced Goal Keepers Academy's goalkeeper Josh McSween to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a little luck, Goal Keepers Academy's Josh McSween got control of the ball when Miles Sinclair tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 74th minute of the match Finlay McLardie shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Tom Fowler showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. After 77 played minutes Goal Keepers Academy got a freekick which was hit by Sean Simson. In the 88th minute, Rick Appleton 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. Miles Sinclair fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 91st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Josh McSween having to interfere. In the 94th minute the ball was on its way in behind Portugal Sporting Blue's goalkeeper Tom Fowler, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Portugal Sporting Blue eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.