League

Atherton
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Damian Grigg got the match started through his kick off. After a defensive mix-up in Atherton's zone, Alex Best stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. CJ Hancock came out of the goal and Alex Best tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Atherton's CJ Hancock played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alex Best in the 6th minute of play. Atherton's CJ Hancock played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alex Best in the 8th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alex Best in the 10th minute of play forced Atherton's goalkeeper CJ Hancock to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. CJ Hancock showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Damian Grigg, who was totally free with the ball in the 11th minute. Alex Best struck a weak shot in the 12th minute. CJ Hancock didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Whitton City. CJ Hancock made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Damian Grigg in the 13th minute of play. After 15 minutes, Alf Bass mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Whitton City and the Atherton players grew even worse after the yellow card. Alex Best recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 17th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 21 minutes into the match, Whitton City's goal looked a bit too open when Terry Davies came free, but Graham Morrison reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 26th minute Damian Grigg shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but CJ Hancock saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 27th minute, Alex Best ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. CJ Hancock was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. In the 30th minute the ball was on its way in behind Atherton's goalkeeper CJ Hancock, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 31 minutes into the match, Whitton City's goalkeeper Graham Morrison had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Jamie Upson. Jamie Upson recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 37th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Jamie Upson received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 39th minute. Graham Morrison tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Rhys Bridge sent away a hard shot on goal in the 42nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 47th minute Alex Best shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but CJ Hancock saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Rhys Bridge to make the kick off. Damian Grigg received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 54th minute. CJ Hancock tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The audience thought a goal was coming when Alex Best got free with CJ Hancock in the 60th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 65th minute, Damian Grigg 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. In the 66th minute, Jamie Upson hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 68 minutes Atherton's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Billie Frizzell who took care of the corner kick. Billie Frizzell made a great header on Whitton City's corner, it was just that Atherton's CJ Hancock managed to reach the ball for a save. After 71 minutes, Johnnie Robinson mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Whitton City and the Atherton players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of Atherton booed when Whitton City was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 72 match minutes in a wonderful position. Johnnie Robinson didn't get a good kick on the ball. A collision led to Atherton getting a freekick after 82 minutes play. Rhys Bridge hit a great ball. Billie Frizzell was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 83rd played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. Alex Best's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but CJ Hancock read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 85th minute of play. Jamie Upson recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 89th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Terry Davies sent away a hard shot on goal in the 90th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance.