League

CAVE
Spectators: 7524 (Terracing: 5644, Seating: 1730, VIP seats: 150) Rosario Sylvester made the kick off and thus started the match. In the 5th minute, Whitmore Lake's Richie Diamond seemed to kick out at an opponent. The referee saw this and, surprisingly, showed Richie Diamond the red card, dismissing him from the pitch. The coaching staff of Whitmore Lake protested bitterly, but the referee would have none of it, and Richie Diamond had no choice but to slowly walk off the pitch. In the 5th minute, one of Whitmore Lake:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Whitmore Lake. When Vicente Munoz fell near the penalty area in the 11th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Smacker's protests and gave Vicente Munoz a yellow card for diving instead. If Shannon Bateman had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 22nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Bradly Paris took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gary Otto, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 29 minutes of play, Whitmore Lake's Junior Easley made it 1-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Jim Bassett was left in no man's land by his defense there! After some careless play in the Smacker defense, Shannon Bateman kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Jim Bassett. The Smacker fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Jim Bassett should have stopped the shot. 38 minutes into the game, Shannon Bateman cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-3. Jim Bassett was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 42ndth minute of the game Shannon Bateman who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Smacker's Jim Bassett was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Stephen Nava sent away a hard shot on goal in the 43rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A collision led to Whitmore Lake getting a freekick after 45 minutes play. Stephen Nava hit a great ball. After some careless play in the Whitmore Lake defense, Gary Otto kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Bradly Paris. The Whitmore Lake fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Bradly Paris should have stopped the shot.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Gary Otto to make the kick off. Smacker's Jim Bassett proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 54th minute of the match, managed to save Smacker from getting a goal against them. The audience thought a goal was coming when Shannon Bateman got free with Jim Bassett in the 58th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Shannon Bateman sent away a hard shot on goal in the 69th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Stephen Nava recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 70th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 72nd minute Quinton Riggs shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Bradly Paris saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Junior Easley received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 76th minute. Jim Bassett tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Stephen Nava recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 83rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Bradly Paris came out of the goal in the 87th minute to try and stop a shot by Smacker's Gary Otto. But to his dismay, Gary Otto quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 3-3. With a little luck, Smacker's Jim Bassett got control of the ball when Shannon Bateman tried to sneak it across the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Whitmore Lake's zone, Gary Otto stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Bradly Paris came out of the goal and Gary Otto tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Shannon Bateman's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Jim Bassett read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 97th minute of play. Whitmore Lake were disappointed that they only managed a draw, even though they felt themselves to be the better team.