League

Stock Stadium
Spectators: 6867 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1867, VIP seats: 0) After 4 played minutes Stock got a freekick which was hit by Johnnie Styles. Birkdale's Paul Fieldwick proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 7th minute of the match, managed to save Birkdale from getting a goal against them. After some careless play in the Birkdale defense, Jasper Brookes kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Paul Fieldwick. The Birkdale fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Paul Fieldwick should have stopped the shot. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Nigel Housham in the 13th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Craig Barker saved Stock from getting behind. A collision led to Birkdale getting a freekick after 16 minutes play. Rodd Welsh hit a great ball. Paul Fieldwick showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Dean Ploughman in the 21st minute of the match. Jasper Brookes might have been able to make a better finish in the 22nd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Paul Fieldwick. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Jasper Brookes ran back to his position shaking his head. Jasper Brookess short, quick shot in the 25thth minute got Paul Fieldwick to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Nigel Housham received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 28th minute. Craig Barker tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The supporters of Birkdale booed when Stock was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 29 match minutes in a wonderful position. Alastair Edmonton didn't get a good kick on the ball. Stewart Wilkinson sent away a hard shot on goal in the 30th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Jasper Brookes received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 38th minute. Paul Fieldwick tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Stock's Dean Ploughman was standing unmarked in front of the goal when he, in the 39th play minute, got the ball and easily drilled it into the goal. Jasper Brookes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 43rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Af the end of the first half the score was 4-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

The wind increased when Dean Ploughman made the kick off in the second half. Dean Ploughman fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 51st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Paul Fieldwick having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Dean Ploughman in the 53rd minute of play forced Birkdale's goalkeeper Paul Fieldwick to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The supporters of Stock booed when Birkdale was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 54 match minutes in a wonderful position. Louie Amos didn't get a good kick on the ball. Jasper Brookes's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Paul Fieldwick read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 56th minute of play. Dean Ploughman might have been able to make a better finish in the 57th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Paul Fieldwick. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Dean Ploughman ran back to his position shaking his head. Paul Fieldwick showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jasper Brookes, who was totally free with the ball in the 57th minute. In a very dangerous position, a player in Birkdale fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 59th minute. Penalty! The referee gave Stock a penalty, 61 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Les Haigh, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Birkdale's Paul Fieldwick. 5-0. Dean Ploughman struck a weak shot in the 65th minute. Paul Fieldwick didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Stock. After 66 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Birkdale! Sonny Leighton's late challenge caught a Birkdale's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Sonny Leighton helped the player get up and apologised. The audience thought a goal was coming when Stewart Wilkinson got free with Craig Barker in the 84th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Dean Ploughman struck a weak shot in the 89th minute. Paul Fieldwick didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Stock. Jasper Brookes fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 91st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Paul Fieldwick having to interfere. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Dean Ploughman in the 94th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Paul Fieldwick prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Stock's Dean Ploughman got a good chance for a goal in the 100th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Birkdale's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.