League

Royal Cherry Blossom
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) London Athletic's Bryan Dodd 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. Christian Beasley sent away a hard shot on goal in the 3rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Kristopher Mumford hit a great freekick 4 minutes into the match. If Tristan Burns had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 5th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 8th minute Bryan Dodd shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Barry Tully saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 15 minutes, Rod Currie mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Shaftesbury FC and the London Athletic players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 15th minute, Rod Currie hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Tristan Burns sent away a hard shot on goal in the 18th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Tristan Burnss short, quick shot in the 20thth minute got Barry Tully to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Bryan Dodd fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 25th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Barry Tully having to interfere. The audience thought a goal was coming when Tristan Burns got free with Barry Tully in the 27th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Tyrone Bevan's late challenge caught a London Athletic's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Tyrone Bevan helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of London Athletic booed when Shaftesbury FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 33 match minutes in a wonderful position. Tyrone Bevan didn't get a good kick on the ball. 34 minutes into the game, Bryan Dodd cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-0. Barry Tully was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Tristan Burns's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Barry Tully read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 40th minute of play. In the 41st minute, London Athletic's Bryan Dodd dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 2-0. After 44 played minutes London Athletic got a freekick which was hit by Alistair Duff. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 2-0.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Trev Gardener to strike the kick off in the second half. London Athletic's Rowan Golding played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Trev Gardener in the 52nd minute of play. London Athletic's Rowan Golding proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 55th minute of the match, managed to save London Athletic from getting a goal against them. If Tristan Burns had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 58th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. London Athletic's Tristan Burns got a good chance for a goal in the 62nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 64thth minute of the game Trev Gardener who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but London Athletic's Rowan Golding was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. If Christian Beasley had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 67th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Tristan Burns had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 69th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. A collision led to Shaftesbury FC getting a freekick after 70 minutes play. Tyrone Bevan hit a great ball. Barry Tully made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tristan Burns in the 72nd minute of play. Rowan Golding made an important save on a dangerous shot by Christian Beasley in the 73rd minute. Barry Tully showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Bryan Dodd, who was totally free with the ball in the 74th minute. The supporters of Shaftesbury FC booed when London Athletic was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 75 match minutes in a wonderful position. Alistair Duff didn't get a good kick on the ball. 83 minutes into the match, Shaftesbury FC's Trev Gardener sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Rowan Golding narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After 86 minutes, Alistair Duff mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the London Athletic and the Shaftesbury FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. 89 minutes into the match, London Athletic's goalkeeper Rowan Golding had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Christian Beasley. Shaftesbury FC's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.