League

The Duck Pond
Spectators: 9230 (Terracing: 6924, Seating: 2123, VIP seats: 183) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Matthew Watkins started the match with the kick off. Cody Steel sent away a hard shot on goal in the 3rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Denis Walmsley showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cody Steel, who was totally free with the ball in the 9th minute. Julian Joachim received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 11th minute. Denis Walmsley tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Tod McCartney had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 12th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. George Dudek made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tod McCartney in the 12th minute of play. With a little luck, Oakham's George Dudek got control of the ball when Mark Rowell tried to sneak it across the goal line. George Dudek made an important save on a dangerous shot by Mark Rowell in the 14th minute. Julian Joachim fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 15th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Denis Walmsley having to interfere. With an all-out effort, Stickleback Utd Xl's George Dudek threw himself towards the right post 16 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Tod McCartney, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. An unexpectedly hard shot by Tod McCartney in the 18th minute of play forced Oakham's goalkeeper George Dudek to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 20 minutes into the match, Oakham's goal looked a bit too open when Tod McCartney came free, but George Dudek reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. George Dudek showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Kasey Bond, who was totally free with the ball in the 32nd minute. After a rather tough play, Stickleback Utd Xl's Mark Rowell got a free kick in the 35th minute. Denis Walmsley took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Julian Joachim, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 36 minutes into the match, Julian Joachim notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of Stickleback Utd Xl's Denis Walmsley. Denis Walmsley was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. An unexpectedly hard shot by Matthew Watkins in the 39th minute of play forced Stickleback Utd Xl's goalkeeper Denis Walmsley to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 40th minute, Dave Coletti hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. George Dudek was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Tod McCartney showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-1 in the 47 minute of play.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Tod McCartney to make the kick off. If Matthew Watkins had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 56th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Denis Walmsley made an important save on a dangerous shot by Matthew Watkins in the 59th minute. In the 63rd minute Kasey Bond shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but George Dudek saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. George Dudek took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Tod McCartney, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. George Dudek showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Tod McCartney in the 72nd minute of the match. Oakham's George Dudek played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Tod McCartney in the 73rd minute of play. 74 minutes had been played when some careless play by Oakham's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Tod McCartney was slow to take the kick. During this time Stickleback Utd Xl's players had a chance to rest. Tod McCartney made a great header on Stickleback Utd Xl's corner, it was just that Oakham's George Dudek managed to reach the ball for a save. George Dudek made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Kasey Bond in the 76th minute of play. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Julian Joachim in the 78th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Denis Walmsley prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 80 minutes into the match, Oakham's goal looked a bit too open when Laurence Perryman came free, but George Dudek reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The supporters of Stickleback Utd Xl booed when Oakham was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 84 match minutes in a wonderful position. Matthew Watkins didn't get a good kick on the ball. George Dudek took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Tod McCartney, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Kasey Bond received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 93rd minute. George Dudek tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 95 minutes of play, Stickleback Utd Xl's Tod McCartney made it 2-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. George Dudek was left in no man's land by his defense there! The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Stickleback Utd Xl had won after a very even match.