Friendly League

Yardley Arena
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Hamílton Couto got the match started through his kick off. 3 minutes into the match, Giru EC's goalkeeper Hugo Montenegro had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Sidney Bancroft. Stephen Goodfellow fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 5th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Hugo Montenegro having to interfere. If Alexandre Varela had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 14th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. 2-0 became the score in the 18th minute when Ian Caton elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. Hugo Montenegro made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ian Caton in the 22nd minute of play. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Wiliam Macedo in the 24th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Pete Eslworth prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Yardley's Ian Caton was standing unmarked in front of the goal when he, in the 28th play minute, got the ball and easily drilled it into the goal. Hamílton Couto received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 35th minute. Pete Eslworth tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. With his leg Hugo Montenegro managed to avoid a goal in the 38thth minute, when Yardley's Stephen Goodfellow fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Zack Langdon in the 40thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Hugo Montenegro, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. In the 41st minute, Hamílton Couto made a precise shot to the right of Pete Eslworth. Yardley's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 3-1. Pete Eslworth made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Hamílton Couto in the 47th minute of play. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 3-1.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Ian Caton was the one to do the kick off. Pete Eslworth stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Hamílton Couto's shot from short distance in the 53rd minute. Alexandre Varela fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 54th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Pete Eslworth having to interfere. If Hamílton Couto had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 57th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Stephen Goodfellow kicked well hit freekick during the 58th minute of the match. With 60 minutes on the clock, Wiliam Macedo commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. Wiliam Macedo kicked well hit freekick during the 60th minute of the match. After a defensive mix-up in Giru EC's zone, Tristram Yeo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Hugo Montenegro came out of the goal and Tristram Yeo tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Sidney Bancroft sent away a hard shot on goal in the 65th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 71st minute Sidney Bancroft shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Hugo Montenegro saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 73rd minute, Kléber Tande 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. Hugo Montenegro showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Sidney Bancroft, who was totally free with the ball in the 76th minute. Laerte Nóbrega took the ball and in the 84 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Pete Eslworth. Pete Eslworth dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 4-2. 87 minutes into the match, Giru EC's goal looked a bit too open when Ian Caton came free, but Hugo Montenegro reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 89 minutes into the match, Giru EC's goal looked a bit too open when Zack Langdon came free, but Hugo Montenegro reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Zack Langdon had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 91st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Hamílton Couto in the 94th minute of play forced Yardley's goalkeeper Pete Eslworth to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Yardley were really happy, having secured the victory after a very even contest. They thanked the players of Giru EC for a fine match.