U23 League

ACS ARENA
Spectators: 159 (Terracing: 120, Seating: 36, VIP seats: 3) Erkan Fostiropoulos started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. 2 minutes into the match, Rot-Weiss-Essen's Erkan Fostiropoulos sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Sebastian Monkhouse narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Chris Rösele charged in rather forcefully in the 3rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Chris Rösele the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 3rd minute, Chris Rösele hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. FC ARK CS's Damon Gascoigne shoveled away a really nice long shot in the 4th minute of play. The shot was stopped by Adam Northe but with some difficulty. Mesut Özil struck a weak shot in the 5th minute. Sebastian Monkhouse didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Rot-Weiss-Essen. Mesut Özil hit a great freekick 10 minutes into the match. 11 minutes into the match, Rot-Weiss-Essen's goalkeeper Adam Northe had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Trev Drury. In the 16th minute Gianluca Althenn shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Sebastian Monkhouse saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. A collision led to FC ARK CS getting a freekick after 22 minutes play. Lee Acton hit a great ball. Damon Gascoigne could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 26th minute of the match, but Adam Northe made a huge save. Sebastian Monkhouse took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Helmut Malinowski, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience was convinced that Erkan Fostiropoulos's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Sebastian Monkhouse was relentless in the 30th minute of the game. Sebastian Monkhouse showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Erkan Fostiropoulos, who was totally free with the ball in the 33rd minute. Trev Drury recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 36th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Sebastian Monkhouse came out of the goal in the 41st minute to try and stop a shot by Rot-Weiss-Essen's Mesut Özil. But to his dismay, Mesut Özil quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Helmut Malinowski in the 45th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Sebastian Monkhouse prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 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 Trev Drury to make the kick off. In the 50th match minute, Rot-Weiss-Essen was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Christoph Beckert to maneuver through the defense. Adam Northe took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Damon Gascoigne, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After having played for 64 minutes, Ken McGurk managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. FC ARK CS's supporters crossed their fingers, but Ken McGurk 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 rather tough play, FC ARK CS's Nicky Askew got a free kick in the 67th minute. Trev Drury received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 72nd minute. Adam Northe tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Adam Northe showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Trev Drury, who was totally free with the ball in the 75th minute. If Ken McGurk had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 76th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Sebastian Monkhouse made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Erkan Fostiropoulos in the 83rd minute of play. In the 89th match minute, Rot-Weiss-Essen was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Mesut Özil to maneuver through the defense. Adam Northe showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Trev Drury, who was totally free with the ball in the 90th minute. Helmut Malinowski could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 94th minute of the match, but Sebastian Monkhouse made a huge save. The Rot-Weiss-Essen players were relieved to hear the final whistle blow to end the match. The away crowd was happy to see their team win after a very tight game.