League

The Boneyard
Spectators: 6000 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Patrick Price made the kick off and thus started the match. Palmerston North Pirates's Kevin Williams played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Paco Merz in the 3rd minute of play. Bjorn Petersen hit a great freekick 5 minutes into the match. Bert Whatman kicked well hit freekick during the 7th minute of the match. In the 9th minute, Loyd Kile hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Abbott Powell had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 11th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 17th minute, Paco Merz ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Kevin Williams was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. Abbott Powell received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 27th minute. Howard Mcjunkins tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Loyd Kile fell near the penalty area in the 28th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored NikoFC's protests and gave Loyd Kile a yellow card for diving instead. After a rather tough play, NikoFC's Loyd Kile got a free kick in the 28th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Abbott Powell in the 30th minute of play forced NikoFC's goalkeeper Howard Mcjunkins to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Paco Merz in the 43rd minute of play forced Palmerston North Pirates's goalkeeper Kevin Williams to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Abbott Powell was the one to do the kick off. If Dan Wittber had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 53rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Abbott Powell in the 57th minute of play forced NikoFC's goalkeeper Howard Mcjunkins to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Howard Mcjunkins made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Dan Wittber in the 60th minute of play. In the 62nd match minute, NikoFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Loyd Kile to maneuver through the defense. After 66 played minutes Palmerston North Pirates got a freekick which was hit by Byrne Sewell. 68 minutes into the match, Paco Merz notched a goal, 0-2, to the right of Palmerston North Pirates's Kevin Williams. Kevin Williams was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Paco Merz fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 72nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Kevin Williams having to interfere. Paco Merz sent away a hard shot on goal in the 75th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Dan Wittber's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Howard Mcjunkins read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 77th minute of play. Dan Wittber sent away a hard shot on goal in the 88th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Howard Mcjunkins made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Dan Wittber in the 91st minute of play. After 94 played minutes Palmerston North Pirates got a freekick which was hit by Abbott Powell. Bert Whatman struck a weak shot in the 96th minute. Kevin Williams didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for NikoFC. The NikoFC supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing NikoFC would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.