League

Stowmarket
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Jerry Benbow started the match with the kick off. A collision led to Stowmarket getting a freekick after 2 minutes play. Les Steele hit a great ball. In the 5th minute, Aaron Frain 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. Rod Auty was a little too slow when Tommy Dunn got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 7th minute. The score was now 1-0. Les Steele succeeded in the game's 10th minute to shoot an unreachable shot under the crossbar and scored - 2-0. Carl Ploughman sent away a hard shot on goal in the 13th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Lawrence Rayner 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. With a little luck, Lionbow FC's Rod Auty got control of the ball when Marty Blewitt tried to sneak it across the goal line. Rod Auty made an important save on a dangerous shot by Tommy Dunn in the 29th minute. Lionbow FC's Lawrence Rayner got a good chance for a goal in the 32nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Barney Barber made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Aaron Frain in the 34th minute of play. 36 minutes into the match, Carl Ploughman notched a goal, 2-1, to the right of Stowmarket's Barney Barber. Barney Barber was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Rod Auty made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Marty Blewitt in the 43rd minute of play. Aaron Frain fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 44th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Barney Barber having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in Stowmarket's zone, Seb Chadwick stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Barney Barber came out of the goal and Seb Chadwick tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 47th minute, Tommy Dunn managed to get in a good position for a shot. Stowmarket's supporters rose to their feet, but Tommy Dunn was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Rod Auty breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 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 2-1.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Lawrence Rayner made a kick off. Lionbow FC's Rod Auty played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Marty Blewitt in the 52nd minute of play. 54 minutes into the game, Tommy Dunn cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 3-1. Rod Auty was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Lionbow FC's Lawrence Rayner was standing unmarked in front of the goal when he, in the 58th play minute, got the ball and easily drilled it into the goal. Barney Barber was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Seb Chadwick showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 3-3 in the 60 minute of play. Rod Auty took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Les Steele, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 68 played minutes Stowmarket got a freekick which was hit by Marty Blewitt. After a defensive mix-up in Stowmarket's zone, Seb Chadwick stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Barney Barber came out of the goal and Seb Chadwick tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. When Les Steele came up free with the goalie in the 71st minute, the Stowmarket fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Les Steele couldn't finish the play. 81 minutes into the match, Stowmarket's goalkeeper Barney Barber had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Seb Chadwick. Rod Auty made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tommy Dunn in the 82nd minute of play. Marty Blewitt sent away a hard shot on goal in the 83rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A collision led to Stowmarket getting a freekick after 84 minutes play. Carl Castleton hit a great ball. In the 89th minute Jerry Benbow shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rod Auty saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 92 minutes, Henry Coogan mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Lionbow FC and the Stowmarket players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 92nd minute, Henry Coogan hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 93 played minutes Lionbow FC got a freekick which was hit by Tommy Taylor. 94 minutes into the match, Lionbow FC's goal looked a bit too open when Jerry Benbow came free, but Rod Auty reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Jeers came from both ends of the stadium when the final whistle went. Neither team had looked impressive and the draw seeemd a fair result.