League

Civic Stadium
Spectators: 7500 (Terracing: 5625, Seating: 1725, VIP seats: 150) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Edmundo Oakley started the match with the kick off. Cory Helms could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 7th minute of the match, but Colby McManus made a huge save. When the match clock showed 12 minutes, the score became 0-1 when Stephan Bachman sped through Bellingham Dolphins's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of German Shockley. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Pat Pryor during the 17th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 17th match minute, Bellingham Dolphins was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Pat Pryor to maneuver through the defense. C.J. Zepeda's late challenge caught a Asheville FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. C.J. Zepeda helped the player get up and apologised. In the 23rd match minute, Bellingham Dolphins was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Armando Mathis to maneuver through the defense. An unexpectedly hard shot by Stephan Bachman in the 26th minute of play forced Bellingham Dolphins's goalkeeper German Shockley to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Cory Helms could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 27th minute of the match, but Colby McManus made a huge save. In the 30thth minute of the game Joaquin Contreras who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Bellingham Dolphins's German Shockley was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Edmundo Oakley in the 32nd minute of play forced Asheville FC's goalkeeper Colby McManus to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Cory Helms sent away a hard shot on goal in the 36th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience thought a goal was coming when Cory Helms got free with Colby McManus in the 39th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. If Joaquin Contreras had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 44th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-1 lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Stephan Bachman to make the kick off. 52 minutes into the match, Asheville FC's Stephan Bachman sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that German Shockley narrowly saved just below the crossbar. 57 minutes into the match, Asheville FC's goal looked a bit too open when Edmundo Oakley came free, but Colby McManus reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Cory Helms in the 59th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Colby McManus prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 61 minutes into the game, Cory Helms cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-1. Colby McManus was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. 67 minutes into the match, Asheville FC's Stephan Bachman sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that German Shockley narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Cory Helms sent away a hard shot on goal in the 70th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Cory Helms might have been able to make a better finish in the 74th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Colby McManus. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Cory Helms ran back to his position shaking his head. The supporters of Bellingham Dolphins booed when Asheville FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 79 match minutes in a wonderful position. Frank Dotson didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 80th minute, Andre Matthews sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Asheville FC's Colby McManus didn't even have to move. Edmundo Oakley fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 83rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Colby McManus having to interfere. Colby McManus made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Edmundo Oakley in the 92nd minute of play. Colby McManus showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cory Helms, who was totally free with the ball in the 96th minute. The second half was just like the first, even and exciting. The match ended in a draw.