U18 League

The Common
Spectators: 162 (Terracing: 122, Seating: 37, VIP seats: 3) Chip Preece started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. 6 minutes into the game, Vern Calder was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Clapham Comets F.C.'s manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Garlic Eaters the free kick. After a defensive mix-up in Clapham Comets F.C.'s zone, Tod Jones stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Sebastian Cross came out of the goal and Tod Jones tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Chip Preeces short, quick shot in the 11thth minute got Shane Steadman to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. The supporters of Clapham Comets F.C. booed when Garlic Eaters was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 12 match minutes in a wonderful position. Louie Barfield didn't get a good kick on the ball. With his leg Shane Steadman managed to avoid a goal in the 19thth minute, when Clapham Comets F.C.'s Chip Preece fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Louie Barfield hit a great freekick 20 minutes into the match. After a rather tough play, Clapham Comets F.C.'s Barney Bzeu got a free kick in the 21st minute. With his leg Shane Steadman managed to avoid a goal in the 23rdth minute, when Clapham Comets F.C.'s Chip Preece fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Shane Steadman made an important save on a dangerous shot by Chip Preece in the 27th minute. Shane Steadman took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Chip Preece, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Chip Preeces short, quick shot in the 35thth minute got Shane Steadman to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. After 36 played minutes Garlic Eaters got a freekick which was hit by Louie Barfield. Chip Preece's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 39thth minute, Shane Steadman skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Frank Fowler could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 44th minute of the match, but Shane Steadman made a huge save. 46 minutes into the game, Chip Preece lined in a short shot 2-1 behind a frustrated Shane Steadman. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-1 at half-time.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Louie Barfield made a kick off. After a rather tough play, Clapham Comets F.C.'s Barney Bzeu got a free kick in the 56th minute. Garlic Eaters's Shane Steadman played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Chip Preece in the 59th minute of play. A collision led to Garlic Eaters getting a freekick after 62 minutes play. Beinn Boston hit a great ball. The audience was convinced that Chip Preece's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Shane Steadman was relentless in the 64th minute of the game. After a rather tough play, Garlic Eaters's Beinn Boston got a free kick in the 65th minute. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Chip Preece in the 68th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Shane Steadman prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 69th minute Chip Preece shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Shane Steadman saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Shane Steadman showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Barney Bzeu in the 70th minute of the match. After 72 minutes of play, Clapham Comets F.C.'s Chip Preece made it 4-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Shane Steadman was left in no man's land by his defense there! 81 minutes into the match, Garlic Eaters's goal looked a bit too open when Frank Fowler came free, but Shane Steadman reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 82nd minute Clapham Comets F.C. were awarded a corner. Chip Preece went to the cornerflag to take it. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Chip Preece in the 84th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Shane Steadman prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Shane Steadman took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Chip Preece, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Thomas Holmes charged in rather forcefully in the 87th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Thomas Holmes the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. 88 minutes into the match, Chip Preece had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Shane Steadman. Garlic Eaters's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Chip Preece was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 6-1. Shane Steadman showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Frank Fowler, who was totally free with the ball in the 93rd minute. The Clapham Comets F.C. fans' excitement grew in the 95th match minute when Clapham Comets F.C.'s Chip Preece 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 7-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Clapham Comets F.C. had won after a very even match.