League

Tara Hills Stadium
Spectators: 7734 (Terracing: 5805, Seating: 1779, VIP seats: 150) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Riley Thurston kicked off to start the match. 4 minutes into the match, St. Matthews's Rusty Pagan sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Rex Ambriz narrowly saved just below the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rusty Pagan in the 7th minute of play forced Tara Hills's goalkeeper Rex Ambriz to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Rusty Pagan charged in rather forcefully in the 9th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Rusty Pagan the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Rusty Pagan hit a great freekick 9 minutes into the match. Riley Thurston struck a weak shot in the 10th minute. Preston Banning didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Tara Hills. Rex Ambriz stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Rusty Pagan's shot from short distance in the 15th minute. Basil Olson received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 19th minute. Rex Ambriz tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The St. Matthews fans' excitement grew in the 21st match minute when St. Matthews's Basil Olson looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 0-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. If Rusty Pagan had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 24th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 32 minutes into the game, St. Matthews's Basil Olson nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Rex Ambriz made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-3. Orlando Blanchard hit a great freekick 42 minutes into the match. Terry Barnes's late challenge caught a Tara Hills's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Terry Barnes helped the player get up and apologised. In the 47th minute, Terry Barnes hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. A hard shot 48 in the game by Merrill Jean from a close distance when the talented Preston Banning managed to make a qualified save. St. Matthews's players were relieved. Disappointed in the 0-3 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Rusty Pagan stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Basil Olson who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 54thth minute tested the skills of Rex Ambriz when he managed to save the team from getting behind. In the 55th minute Riley Thurston shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Preston Banning saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When Lucien Comer fell near the penalty area in the 57th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Tara Hills's protests and gave Lucien Comer a yellow card for diving instead. After 57 played minutes Tara Hills got a freekick which was hit by Lucien Comer. In the 59th minute Rusty Pagan shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rex Ambriz saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rusty Pagan in the 61st minute of play forced Tara Hills's goalkeeper Rex Ambriz to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a rather tough play, Tara Hills's Domenic Gauthier got a free kick in the 65th minute. If Rusty Pagan had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 66th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. The audience thought a goal was coming when Basil Olson got free with Rex Ambriz in the 70th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Basil Olson could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 71st minute of the match, but Rex Ambriz made a huge save. Rex Ambriz was out of position in the 72 minute of play, and Rusty Pagan capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Rusty Pagan really showed his touch with that goal: 0-4. Basil Olson sent away a hard shot on goal in the 77th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Basil Olson recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 79th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. If Basil Olson had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 86th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 88 minutes into the match, Tara Hills's goal looked a bit too open when Rusty Pagan came free, but Rex Ambriz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 91st minute, Rusty Pagan managed to get in a good position for a shot. St. Matthews's supporters rose to their feet, but Rusty Pagan was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Rex Ambriz breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. When the match was over St. Matthews could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Tara Hills throughout the match.