U18 World League

The Duck Pen
Spectators: 7713 (Terracing: 5786, Seating: 1774, VIP seats: 153) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Lawrence Banks started the match with the kick off. Stefanos Topoudis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lawrence Banks in the 7th minute of play. After a rather tough play, Real Death Ducks's Kristian Gerrard got a free kick in the 8th minute. Ronan Marler made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tilemachos Emmanouilidis in the 9th minute of play. After a rather tough play, PicksBattle.com's Nontas Gittas got a free kick in the 10th minute. In the 11th minute of the match Anthony Cahill shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Stefanos Topoudis showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. The PicksBattle.com fans' excitement grew in the 12th match minute when PicksBattle.com's Nontas Gittas 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lawrence Banks in the 16th minute of play forced PicksBattle.com's goalkeeper Stefanos Topoudis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Ron Barber kicked well hit freekick during the 24th minute of the match. In the 27th minute, Tilemachos Emmanouilidis hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The audience was convinced that Lawrence Banks's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Stefanos Topoudis was relentless in the 28th minute of the game. In the 30th minute Lawrence Banks shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Stefanos Topoudis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 35th minute, Lawrence Banks managed to get in a good position for a shot. Real Death Ducks's supporters rose to their feet, but Lawrence Banks was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Stefanos Topoudis breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Ronan Marler showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Tilemachos Emmanouilidis, who was totally free with the ball in the 39th minute. In the 40th minute of the match, Jamie North got a very nice opportunity to score, but Stefanos Topoudis was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. 41 minutes into the game, Lawrence Banks lined in a short shot 1-2 behind a frustrated Stefanos Topoudis. In the 45th match minute, Real Death Ducks was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Dean Downs to maneuver through the defense. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 1-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The wind increased when Nontas Gittas made the kick off in the second half. PicksBattle.com's Stefanos Topoudis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Sean Ashford in the 51st minute of play. If Theofanis Mouratis had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 52nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Tilemachos Emmanouilidis received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 53rd minute. Ronan Marler tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. With a little luck, Real Death Ducks's Ronan Marler got control of the ball when Nontas Gittas tried to sneak it across the goal line. After 63 minutes PicksBattle.com's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Anthony Cahill who took care of the corner kick. The corner led Real Death Ducks's Anthony Cahill to fire away a dangerous shot which Stefanos Topoudis despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. When the match clock showed 65 minutes, the score became 2-2 when Lawrence Banks sped through PicksBattle.com's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Stefanos Topoudis. Tilemachos Emmanouilidis kicked well hit freekick during the 76th minute of the match. If Jamie North had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 89th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Stefanos Topoudis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lawrence Banks in the 93rd minute of play. Jamie North received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 94th minute. Stefanos Topoudis tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Stefanos Topoudis showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lawrence Banks in the 96th minute of the match.