League

Betts Arena
Spectators: 7350 (Terracing: 5475, Seating: 1725, VIP seats: 150) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Rod Holley got the match started through his kick off. If Asher Harrell had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 10th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Harvey Gipson showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Asher Harrell in the 12th minute of the match. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Willie Maddox during the 14th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 15th minute there was a penalty for Mercer. Bryan Daley stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Benny Davila. 1-0. If Rod Holley had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 18th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 22nd minute Rod Holley shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Benny Davila saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a rather tough play, Mercer's Bryan Daley got a free kick in the 29th minute. Asher Harrell received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 31st minute. Harvey Gipson tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Craig North blasted a shot towards the goal in the 33rd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Harvey Gipson having to make a save. Benny Davila took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Rod Holley, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 36th minute, Jess Canales hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Boyd Roark succeeded to score despite a near miss that spronge from right pole into the goal to 2-0 in the 42nd playminute. Af the end of the first half the score was 2-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Asher Harrell to strike the kick off in the second half. Asher Harrell fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 52nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Harvey Gipson having to interfere. When Claudio Funk fell near the penalty area in the 56th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Mercer's protests and gave Claudio Funk a yellow card for diving instead. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 55th minute of the game. One of Mercer:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Queen Creek FC:s goal. In the 58th minute there was a penalty for Queen Creek FC. Eduardo Bowden stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Harvey Gipson. 2-1. After 66 played minutes Mercer got a freekick which was hit by Rodrigo Craft. The supporters of Mercer booed when Queen Creek FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 67 match minutes in a wonderful position. Craig North didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 70th minute, Craig North fired away a killer shot towards the goal that, to the delight of Harvey Gipson, passed just outside the right post. Craig North's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Harvey Gipson read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 73rd minute of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Craig North got free with Harvey Gipson in the 78th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. If Rod Holley had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 81st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 85 minutes into the match, Boyd Roark had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Benny Davila. Queen Creek FC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Boyd Roark was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 3-1. A collision led to Mercer getting a freekick after 87 minutes play. Curt Gaston hit a great ball. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Mercer had won after a very even match.