League

Julia Belle Swain
Spectators: 7359 (Terracing: 5500, Seating: 1859, VIP seats: 0) When the match had gone on for 4 minutes, Leland Rubio took a quick shot and it went in 1-0 without a chance for Nicholas Wolff to make any attempt to save it. In the 6th match minute, Novatoo was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Randell Rivera to maneuver through the defense. Whitney Swift showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Randell Rivera in the 9th minute of the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 13th minute, Randell Rivera managed to get in a good position for a shot. Novatoo's supporters rose to their feet, but Randell Rivera was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Whitney Swift breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The audience was convinced that Leland Rubio's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Nicholas Wolff was relentless in the 16th minute of the game. Devin Oliver sent away a hard shot on goal in the 17th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A collision led to John Hartford FC getting a freekick after 19 minutes play. Christian Kruse hit a great ball. The crowd rose to their feet as Leland Rubio kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Nicholas Wolff. That made the score 2-0 in the 22 minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Randell Rivera in the 25th minute of play forced John Hartford FC's goalkeeper Whitney Swift to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Leland Rubio could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 27th minute of the match, but Nicholas Wolff made a huge save. When Nigel Whalen fell near the penalty area in the 27th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Novatoo's protests and gave Nigel Whalen a yellow card for diving instead. In the 30th minute the ball was on its way in behind Novatoo's goalkeeper Nicholas Wolff, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Novatoo's defense didn't have a chance, in the 32nd minute, when Leland Rubio scored to the left of an out of position Nicholas Wolff, making the score, 3-0. Whitney Swift made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Randell Rivera in the 37th minute of play. Whitney Swift took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Randell Rivera, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 39 minutes of play, Novatoo's Randell Rivera made it 3-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Whitney Swift was left in no man's land by his defense there! The supporters of John Hartford FC booed when Novatoo was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 42 match minutes in a wonderful position. Randell Rivera didn't get a good kick on the ball. John Hartford FC's Whitney Swift played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Randell Rivera in the 44th minute of play. A hard shot 46 in the game by Leland Rubio from a close distance when the talented Nicholas Wolff managed to make a qualified save. Novatoo's players were relieved. The crowd rose to their feet as Leland Rubio kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Nicholas Wolff. That made the score 4-1 in the 47 minute of play.

Nigel Whalen got his second yellow card in the match during the 53rd minute which meant that he had to leave the ground. The supporters of John Hartford FC booed when Novatoo was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 54 match minutes in a wonderful position. Nigel Whalen didn't get a good kick on the ball. 57 minutes into the match, Leland Rubio notched a goal, 5-1, to the right of Novatoo's Nicholas Wolff. Nicholas Wolff was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Wilton Lowery hit a great freekick 62 minutes into the match. James Starnes struck a weak shot in the 64th minute. Whitney Swift didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Novatoo. After 66 minutes, Reyes Rivas mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the John Hartford FC and the Novatoo players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 66th match minute, John Hartford FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Reyes Rivas to maneuver through the defense. Reyes Rivas hit a great freekick 68 minutes into the match. Nicholas Wolff made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Reyes Rivas in the 75th minute of play. John Hartford FC's Wayne MacKenzie was substituted for Wilton Lowery. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Leland Rubio in the 86th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Nicholas Wolff saved Novatoo from getting behind. After having played for 90 minutes, Randell Rivera managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Novatoo's supporters crossed their fingers, but Randell Rivera was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After a defensive mix-up in John Hartford FC's zone, James Starnes stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Whitney Swift came out of the goal and James Starnes tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. If Devin Oliver had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 95th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. John Hartford FC had won after a very even match.