League

Wellford Park
Spectators: 7540 (Terracing: 5763, Seating: 1767, VIP seats: 10) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Eric Levy took the kick off in the first half of the match. Raul Bravo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 5th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Darrel Whalen having to interfere. 9 minutes into the match, Luis Marino notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of Wellford AFC's Freddy Proctor. Freddy Proctor was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. When Antony Cooke fell near the penalty area in the 15th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Wellford AFC's protests and gave Antony Cooke a yellow card for diving instead. In the 16th minute, Antony Cooke hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The audience cheered when Douglas Sharpe's long shot passed Freddy Proctor's right side. It was 0-2, 17 minutes into the match. Darrel Whalen made an important save on a dangerous shot by Raul Bravo in the 28th minute. After 38 minutes, Douglas Sharpe mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Bakersfield SC and the Wellford AFC players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 37 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Bakersfield SC! If Eric Levy had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 48th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 1-2 lead.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Luis Marino made a kick off. Raul Bravo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 62nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Darrel Whalen having to interfere. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Raul Bravo in the 66th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Darrel Whalen saved Bakersfield SC from getting behind. Eric Levy might have been able to make a better finish in the 70th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Darrel Whalen. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Eric Levy ran back to his position shaking his head. Darrel Whalen took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Raul Bravo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 72nd minute the ball was on its way in behind Bakersfield SC's goalkeeper Darrel Whalen, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Rudolph McFadden hit a great freekick 73 minutes into the match. Monroe Carbajal sent away a hard shot on goal in the 77th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Levi Connors during the 79th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 79 played minutes Bakersfield SC got a freekick which was hit by Levi Connors. 80 minutes into the match, Wellford AFC's Raul Bravo sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Darrel Whalen narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Raul Bravo recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 82nd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 91st minute of the match Jermaine Woodward sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Darrel Whalen skillfully saved the ball. Raul Bravo might have been able to make a better finish in the 93rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Darrel Whalen. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Raul Bravo ran back to his position shaking his head.