League

Bell Gardens
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when J.P. Gage kicked off to start the match. The supporters of Bell Gardens AFC booed when Mechanicville was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 2 match minutes in a wonderful position. Fletcher Woodruff didn't get a good kick on the ball. With a little luck, Mechanicville's Mitch Samuels got control of the ball when Fred Uhl tried to sneak it across the goal line. Mitch Samuels took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Sebastian Davidson, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 13th minute of the match Donny Ladner sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Lyle Landreth skillfully saved the ball. The supporters of Bell Gardens AFC booed when Mechanicville was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 15 match minutes in a wonderful position. Sheldon Benjamin didn't get a good kick on the ball. Lyle Landreth showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Winston Matthews, who was totally free with the ball in the 21st minute. Sheldon Benjamin scored 0-1 in the 22nd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Lyle Landreth, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. 34 minutes had been played when some careless play by Bell Gardens AFC's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Renato Braswell was slow to take the kick. During this time Mechanicville's players had a chance to rest. The corner led Mechanicville's Renato Braswell to fire away a dangerous shot which Lyle Landreth despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Lyle Landreth didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Winston Matthews went, in the 36th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-2 was the resulting score. Lyle Landreth made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Winston Matthews in the 43rd minute of play. Winston Matthews scored 0-3 in the 45th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Lyle Landreth, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-3 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Winston Matthews was the one to do the kick off. After a rather tough play, Bell Gardens AFC's Dale Norton got a free kick in the 53rd minute. The audience thought it was a sure goal in the 54th minute, when Mechanicville's Renato Braswell after having done a great run through the defense got himself free with Lyle Landreth in Bell Gardens AFC's goal and fired away a shot, but it missed the goal by a fraction of an inch. Lyle Landreth made a fantastic save in the 62nd minute, when Winston Matthews sent off a good shot on target. After a rather tough play, Bell Gardens AFC's Sebastian Davidson got a free kick in the 62nd minute. 66 minutes into the game, Sebastian Davidson was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Bell Gardens AFC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Mechanicville the free kick. In the 66th minute, Sebastian Davidson hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Lyle Landreth was a little too slow when Sheldon Benjamin got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 68th minute. The score was now 0-4. In the 74th minute, Bell Gardens AFC's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Winston Matthews fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. Lyle Landreth made an important save on a dangerous shot by Winston Matthews in the 78th minute. The long shot by Renato Braswell in the 80th minute really tested Lyle Landreth's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal. Sheldon Benjamin received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 85th minute. Lyle Landreth tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 87 minutes into the game, Mechanicville's Winston Matthews nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Lyle Landreth made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-6. After 91 minutes of play, Mechanicville's Winston Matthews made it 0-7 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Lyle Landreth was left in no man's land by his defense there! Winston Matthews succeeded to score despite a near miss that spronge from right pole into the goal to 0-8 in the 97th playminute.