League

Atlantic Beach
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Graham Yeager kicked off to start the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 6th minute, Rufus Diamond managed to get in a good position for a shot. Atlantic Beach FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Rufus Diamond was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Marty Burns breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Marty Burns made a fantastic save in the 7th minute, when Rupert Thacker sent off a good shot on target. Rupert Thacker sent away a hard shot on goal in the 9th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 14 minutes into the match, America FC's goal looked a bit too open when Rufus Diamond came free, but Marty Burns reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in America FC's zone, Rupert Thacker stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Marty Burns came out of the goal and Rupert Thacker tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After a rather tough play, America FC's Leland McFadden got a free kick in the 20th minute. Marty Burns showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Rufus Diamond in the 24th minute of the match. Graham Yeager fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 28th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Wally Weaver having to interfere. 29 minutes into the match, America FC's DeMarcus Voss sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Wally Weaver narrowly saved just below the crossbar. When the match had gone on for 30 minutes, Graham Yeager put it in 0-1 from a short distance just to the right of Wally Weaver. America FC's Marty Burns played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rufus Diamond in the 35th minute of play. When the match clock showed 37 minutes, the score became 1-1 when Rupert Thacker sped through America FC's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Marty Burns. If Rupert Thacker had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 42nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 44th minute, Rupert Thacker 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. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 1-1 after a close first half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Rufus Diamond stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After having played for 55 minutes, Rupert Thacker managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Atlantic Beach FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Rupert Thacker was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. When Atlantic Beach FC's Rufus Diamond in the 56th minute got a chance for a shot 56th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye America FC's goalie prevented a goal. Marty Burns made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Rufus Diamond in the 61st minute of play. After 62 minutes, Willy Laird mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the America FC and the Atlantic Beach FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rufus Diamond in the 63rd minute of play forced America FC's goalkeeper Marty Burns to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Rufus Diamond fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 65th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Marty Burns having to interfere. 67 minutes into the match, America FC's goal looked a bit too open when Rupert Thacker came free, but Marty Burns reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Rupert Thacker in the 73rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Marty Burns saved America FC from getting behind. Chad Trotter hit a great freekick 76 minutes into the match. Graham Yeager 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rufus Diamond in the 79th minute of play forced America FC's goalkeeper Marty Burns to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Rupert Thacker sent away a hard shot on goal in the 80th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After having played for 82 minutes, Rufus Diamond managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Atlantic Beach FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Rufus Diamond was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Rufus Diamond in the 86th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Marty Burns saved America FC from getting behind. A collision led to America FC getting a freekick after 86 minutes play. Sebastian Storey hit a great ball. After having played for 87 minutes, Rufus Diamond managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Atlantic Beach FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Rufus Diamond was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After 89 minutes of play America FC's Leland McFadden was too eager in his attempt to stop his opponent and brought him down. With that he got his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. Leland McFadden hit a great freekick 90 minutes into the match. Jeff Valentin fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 96th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Wally Weaver having to interfere. The America FC players were the happier at the end of the match as they had prevented Atlantic Beach FC from taking control. The game ends in a draw.