League

Spalding Castel
Spectators: 6819 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1719, VIP seats: 100) Wayne Bonds started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Wayne Bonds fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 4th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Felix Rushforth having to interfere. Felix Rushforth showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Wayne Bonds in the 7th minute of the match. Cheltenham's Dale Ackroyd proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 13th minute of the match, managed to save Cheltenham from getting a goal against them. Dale Ackroyd took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from CJ Etherington, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 22nd match minute, FC Spalding Panthers was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Blair Bell to maneuver through the defense. In the 24th minute, Ash Higgins got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Wayne Bonds in the 26th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Felix Rushforth prevented the ball from getting in the gole. The audience thought a goal was coming when Ash Higgins got free with Dale Ackroyd in the 29th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 31st minute of the match Rowan Page shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Dale Ackroyd showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. Dale Ackroyd showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from CJ Etherington in the 33rd minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Kristopher Clough in the 40th minute of play forced FC Spalding Panthers's goalkeeper Felix Rushforth to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After having played for 43 minutes, Ash Higgins managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. FC Spalding Panthers's supporters crossed their fingers, but Ash Higgins was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Ash Higgins received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 45th minute. Dale Ackroyd tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The first half was very even, with the score at 0-0 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for CJ Etherington to strike the kick off in the second half. Wayne Bonds charged in rather forcefully in the 52nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Wayne Bonds the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Wayne Bonds kicked well hit freekick during the 52nd minute of the match. Dale Ackroyd didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from CJ Etherington went, in the 54th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-0 was the resulting score. After having played for 58 minutes, Carl Maston managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. FC Spalding Panthers's supporters crossed their fingers, but Carl Maston was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Cheltenham's Dale Ackroyd played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by CJ Etherington in the 60th minute of play. In the 63rd minute, Wayne Bonds got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. If CJ Etherington had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 66th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Wayne Bonds struck a weak shot in the 68th minute. Felix Rushforth didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Cheltenham. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Ash Higgins in the 73rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Dale Ackroyd prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After some careless play in the Cheltenham defense, Ash Higgins kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Dale Ackroyd. The Cheltenham fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Dale Ackroyd should have stopped the shot. Dale Ackroyd made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from CJ Etherington in the 78th minute of play. Felix Rushforth stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Wayne Bonds's shot from short distance in the 80th minute. Rodd Shotton hit a great freekick 82 minutes into the match. Blair Bell missed a clear chance of a goal when in the 85 minute of the game fired away a shot, but unfortunally the ball went out to the Dale Ackroyd right hand side. When Peter Worrall fell near the penalty area in the 86th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Cheltenham's protests and gave Peter Worrall a yellow card for diving instead. Peter Worrall kicked well hit freekick during the 86th minute of the match. Cheltenham's Dale Ackroyd played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by CJ Etherington in the 87th minute of play. Dale Ackroyd showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from CJ Etherington in the 97th minute of the match. In the 99th minute FC Spalding Panthers were awarded a corner. Marty Crowther went to the cornerflag to take it. After 99 played minutes Cheltenham got a freekick which was hit by Paul Warburton. After a defensive mix-up in Cheltenham's zone, Marty Crowther stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Dale Ackroyd came out of the goal and Marty Crowther tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. FC Spalding Panthers's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.