League

Clark Park
Spectators: 7525 (Terracing: 5625, Seating: 1750, VIP seats: 150) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Willy Bower got the match started through his kick off. In the 2nd minute, Darryl Lawler hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 5th minute the ball was on its way in behind F.C. Rapid's goalkeeper Victor Stahl, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Victor Stahl showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Daren Atkinson in the 6th minute of the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Fletcher Jarvis got free with Victor Stahl in the 10th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The supporters of Cincinnati Strikers booed when F.C. Rapid was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 12 match minutes in a wonderful position. Luke Myles didn't get a good kick on the ball. Daren Atkinson received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 13th minute. Victor Stahl tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 27 played minutes F.C. Rapid got a freekick which was hit by Devon Little. After 32 minutes of play, Cincinnati Strikers's Fletcher Jarvis made it 1-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Victor Stahl was left in no man's land by his defense there! Fletcher Jarvis received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 42nd minute. Victor Stahl tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After some fancy dribbling in the 44th minute, Fletcher Jarvis managed to get in a good position for a shot. Cincinnati Strikers's supporters rose to their feet, but Fletcher Jarvis was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Victor Stahl breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. If Devon Little had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 47th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 1-0.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Daren Atkinson stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. In the 53rd minute of the match Darryl Lawler shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Victor Stahl showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. Daren Atkinson sent away a hard shot on goal in the 54th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 63 played minutes Cincinnati Strikers got a freekick which was hit by Kurtis Clinton. Willy Bower received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 67th minute. Alistair Acuna tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Luke Myles had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 69th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. After 75 played minutes Cincinnati Strikers got a freekick which was hit by Wilfred Romo. An unexpectedly hard shot by Fletcher Jarvis in the 84th minute of play forced F.C. Rapid's goalkeeper Victor Stahl to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 87th minute, Daren Atkinson managed to get in a good position for a shot. Cincinnati Strikers's supporters rose to their feet, but Daren Atkinson was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Victor Stahl breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Fletcher Jarvis received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 89th minute. Victor Stahl tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 92nd minute, Daren Atkinson made a precise shot to the right of Victor Stahl. F.C. Rapid's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-0. Cincinnati Strikers's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.