League

Shizuru Kuwabara ST
Spectators: 8062 (Terracing: 6048, Seating: 1854, VIP seats: 160) REFTS's Domenico Cardoso started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Emilio Justice in the 4thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Lonnie Blankenship, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Alec Mann took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Sheldon Rodrigues, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Virgil Dahlstrom might have been able to make a better finish in the 14th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Alec Mann. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Virgil Dahlstrom ran back to his position shaking his head. Alec Mann showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Sheldon Rodrigues in the 15th minute of the match. Phillip Abrams's late challenge caught a Colonie FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Phillip Abrams helped the player get up and apologised. Preston Simons took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 18th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Alec Mann. REFTS's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Virgil Dahlstrom fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 19th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Alec Mann having to interfere. Alec Mann showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Virgil Dahlstrom in the 23rd minute of the match. Sheldon Rodrigues fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 26th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Alec Mann having to interfere. After 27 played minutes REFTS got a freekick which was hit by Emilio Justice. Alec Mann took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Sheldon Rodrigues, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 34 minutes into the match, Sheldon Rodrigues notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of REFTS's Alec Mann. Alec Mann was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. 39 minutes into the match, Colonie FC's Sheldon Rodrigues sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Alec Mann narrowly saved just below the crossbar. A collision led to REFTS getting a freekick after 40 minutes play. Karl Lacey hit a great ball. In the 42nd minute of the match Preston Simons sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Alec Mann skillfully saved the ball. Alec Mann showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Sheldon Rodrigues, who was totally free with the ball in the 44th minute. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The wind increased when Sheldon Rodrigues made the kick off in the second half. In the 51st minute, Matthew Trent ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Alec Mann was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-2. In the 59th match minute, Colonie FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Sheldon Rodrigues to maneuver through the defense. Domenico Cardoso received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 67th minute. Lonnie Blankenship tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After a rather tough play, REFTS's Domenico Cardoso got a free kick in the 72nd minute. REFTS's Alec Mann played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Virgil Dahlstrom in the 73rd minute of play. Virgil Dahlstrom recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 75th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 76th minute the ball was on its way in behind REFTS's goalkeeper Alec Mann, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 77 minutes into the match, Virgil Dahlstrom dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Alec Mann, 0-3. REFTS's Alec Mann proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 81st minute of the match, managed to save REFTS from getting a goal against them. Sheldon Rodrigues in the 90thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Alec Mann, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Alec Mann showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Virgil Dahlstrom, who was totally free with the ball in the 92nd minute. When the match was over Colonie FC could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than REFTS throughout the match.