League

SL Fires
Spectators: 6772 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1772, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Kasey Blake took the kick off in the first half of the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 3rd minute, Rick Lewis managed to get in a good position for a shot. FLORIDA FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Rick Lewis was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ricardo Shannon breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. If Florian Kerns had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 5th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rick Lewis in the 7th minute of play forced SL FIRES's goalkeeper Ricardo Shannon to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Kasey Blake received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Von Jewell came out and tried to block the shot, but Kasey Blake slotted it home off the left post making it 1-0 in the 9th minute. In the 12th minute, Wally Coats hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Rick Lewis received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 14th minute. Ricardo Shannon tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Kurtis Thomason received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 21st minute. Ricardo Shannon tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 22nd minute, Damon Klein hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Blake Oakley sent away a hard shot on goal in the 25th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Kurtis Thomason received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 29th minute. Ricardo Shannon tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. SL FIRES's Ricardo Shannon played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Kurtis Thomason in the 33rd minute of play. When Forrest Swift fell near the penalty area in the 34th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored SL FIRES's protests and gave Forrest Swift a yellow card for diving instead. Forrest Swift hit a great freekick 34 minutes into the match. A hard and well directed shot from Aldo Mendez led 35 minutes into the game to a goal after the ball had bounced deceptively just in front of the goal. SL FIRES's Ricardo Shannon became a little unsure and couldn't grip the ball before it was over the goalline. Thus it was 1-1. Kurtis Thomason received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 44th minute. Ricardo Shannon tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 46th minute Austin Benson suffered a knee injury and had to be helped off the field. After a rather tough play, SL FIRES's Blake Oakley got a free kick in the 47th minute. The score stood at 1-1 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

When Blake Oakley came up free with the goalie in the 54th minute, the SL FIRES 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 Blake Oakley couldn't finish the play. If Blake Oakley had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 63rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After some careless play in the SL FIRES defense, Kurtis Thomason kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Ricardo Shannon. The SL FIRES fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Ricardo Shannon should have stopped the shot. Florian Kerns received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 74th minute. Ricardo Shannon tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A collision led to SL FIRES getting a freekick after 76 minutes play. Rory Carrington hit a great ball. 79 minutes into the game, Wally Coats was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. FLORIDA FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave SL FIRES the free kick. 81 minutes into the match, FLORIDA FC's goal looked a bit too open when Kasey Blake came free, but Von Jewell reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Kurtis Thomason received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 83rd minute. Ricardo Shannon tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 85 minutes into the match, FLORIDA FC's Wally Coats sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Ricardo Shannon narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Ricardo Shannon made an important save on a dangerous shot by Kurtis Thomason in the 87th minute. When the match had gone on for 87 minutes, Kurtis Thomason took a quick shot and it went in 2-3 without a chance for Ricardo Shannon to make any attempt to save it. Von Jewell made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Kasey Blake in the 96th minute of play. FLORIDA FC's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.