League

Gadsden
Spectators: 7464 (Terracing: 5500, Seating: 1814, VIP seats: 150) Samson AFC's Scotty Hargrove 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. Dudley Emery 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. When Gadsden's Wilbur Acosta in the 5th minute got a chance for a shot 5th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Samson AFC's goalie prevented a goal. Alfredo Patten sent away a hard shot on goal in the 6th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After having played for 9 minutes, Dudley Emery managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Gadsden's supporters crossed their fingers, but Dudley Emery was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Rueben McCormick kicked well hit freekick during the 10th minute of the match. Wilbur Acosta's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 12thth minute, Russ Thurman skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Russ Thurman made a fantastic save in the 15th minute, when Wilbur Acosta sent off a good shot on target. Scottie Wooten showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Scotty Hargrove, who was totally free with the ball in the 16th minute. After 18 minutes, Wilbur Acosta made it 1-0 with a short kick to the right side. Samson AFC's Russ Thurman tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. After a rather tough play, Gadsden's Bret Renteria got a free kick in the 21st minute. Kirk Hearn was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 22nd played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. In the 25th minute Rueben McCormick shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Scottie Wooten saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Nigel Crandall kicked well hit freekick during the 26th minute of the match. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Wilbur Acosta in the 30th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Russ Thurman saved Samson AFC from getting behind. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Sal Clayton during the 32nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Sal Clayton hit a great freekick 32 minutes into the match. Wilbur Acosta recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 33rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. The audience was convinced that Wilbur Acosta's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Russ Thurman was relentless in the 36th minute of the game. In the 40th minute, Sal Clayton hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Wilbur Acosta in the 45th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Russ Thurman prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Russ Thurman made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Wilbur Acosta in the 46th minute of play. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Wilbur Acosta to make the kick off. In the 52nd minute Wilbur Acosta shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Russ Thurman saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 53rd minute, Scotty Hargrove hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The audience was convinced that Wilbur Acosta's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Russ Thurman was relentless in the 57th minute of the game. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Wilbur Acosta in the 59th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Russ Thurman saved Samson AFC from getting behind. 63 minutes into the game, Victor Feliciano was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Samson AFC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Gadsden the free kick. Gadsden made a substitution. Casey Kiser replaced Wilbur Acosta. Victor Feliciano hit a great freekick 65 minutes into the match. 66 minutes into the match, Samson AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Jarvis Bartley came free, but Russ Thurman reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. With an all-out effort, Samson AFC's Scottie Wooten threw himself towards the right post 68 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Scotty Hargrove, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. If Casey Kiser had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 70th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Samson AFC's Russ Thurman played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Casey Kiser in the 74th minute of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 79th minute, Dudley Emery managed to get in a good position for a shot. Gadsden's supporters rose to their feet, but Dudley Emery was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Russ Thurman breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Sal Clayton hit a great freekick 81 minutes into the match. Russ Thurman made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Casey Kiser in the 82nd minute of play. Scottie Wooten showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Scotty Hargrove, who was totally free with the ball in the 84th minute. The supporters of Samson AFC booed when Gadsden was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 86 match minutes in a wonderful position. Nigel Crandall didn't get a good kick on the ball. Hugh Boston received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 90th minute. Russ Thurman tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Gadsden's Casey Kiser in the 93rd minute got a chance for a shot 93rd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Samson AFC's goalie prevented a goal. When Sal Clayton was, once again, overly rough in his play he received his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. 94 minutes had been played. After a rather tough play, Samson AFC's Sal Clayton got a free kick in the 95th minute. When the referee ended the match the Gadsden players were able to celebrate. They had won a fair victory and recieved the ovations of their fans.