League

Menlo
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Jess Hinkle made the kick off which started today's match. Ali Thomson showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Nazil Tokur, who was totally free with the ball in the 6th minute. Ali Thomson made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jess Hinkle in the 13th minute of play. Ali Thomson came out of the goal in the 16th minute to try and stop a shot by Vice Croydon AFC's Jess Hinkle. But to his dismay, Jess Hinkle quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. Ned Turner received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 21st minute. Mark Watt tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 23 minutes into the match, Menlo's goal looked a bit too open when Kurt Esposito came free, but Ali Thomson reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ali Thomson took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Kurt Esposito, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a rather tough play, Menlo's Lincoln Herndon got a free kick in the 26th minute. The supporters of Menlo booed when Vice Croydon AFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 27 match minutes in a wonderful position. Errol Chadwick didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Lincoln Herndon had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 32nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 34th minute, Jess Hinkle made a precise shot to the right of Ali Thomson. Menlo's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-2. In the 39th minute Kurt Esposito shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ali Thomson saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 44th minute Kurt Esposito shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ali Thomson saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Menlo's zone, Kurt Esposito stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ali Thomson came out of the goal and Kurt Esposito tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 49th minute Kurt Esposito shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ali Thomson saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Menlo's Ali Thomson played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Kurt Esposito in the 49th minute of play. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Lincoln Herndon stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. In the 55th minute, Vice Croydon AFC's Jess Hinkle dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 0-3. 60 minutes into the game, Jess Hinkle recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Ali Thomson. Jess Hinkle showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 0-4. In the 65th match minute, Menlo was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Roberto Mayberry to maneuver through the defense. With a little luck, Menlo's Ali Thomson got control of the ball when Kent Patrick tried to sneak it across the goal line. When Vice Croydon AFC's Kurt Esposito in the 71st minute got a chance for a shot 71st didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Menlo's goalie prevented a goal. 77 minutes in the game, Jess Hinkle fired away an excellent shot, which passed to the side of the right post without Ali Thomson having to interfere. 77 minutes into the game, Kurt Esposito cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-6. Ali Thomson was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 81st minute, Vice Croydon AFC's Kurt Esposito dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 0-7. Ali Thomson took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nazil Tokur, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 87th minute of the match Mckinley Crenshaw shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Ali Thomson showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. In the 88th minute, Ned Turner 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. Ali Thomson made an important save on a dangerous shot by Kurt Esposito in the 90th minute. If Jess Hinkle had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 93rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. With a little luck, Menlo's Ali Thomson got control of the ball when Kurt Esposito tried to sneak it across the goal line. 96 minutes into the game, Vice Croydon AFC's Kent Patrick nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Ali Thomson made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-8.