smithstuffers 1 - 0 geasers (374520302)

It had rained all day, but 34690 hardy fans still made it out to smithstuffers Arena. Kim Witten was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Thor Bredskog and Curt Borch. smithstuffers had chosen a strategic 5-3-2 formation. Starters: Kucharczyk - Gustavsson, Drane, bin Durum, Blanckaert, Ristna - Boulanger, Eckenbrecher, MacLise - Averdonk, Davis.

geasers started off with a 4-4-2 lineup. They fielded: Ellis - Harris, Beasley, Naismith, Tiley - Walmsley, Griffiths, Lathe, Weaver - Whiston, Martino.

Using their counter-attacking abilities was the strategy of choice for smithstuffers. There was concern in the stands when, at the 23 minute mark, geasers's H. Naismith hit the ground hard, but he refused the attention of the trainer and rejoined his teammates on the pitch. smithstuffers fans held their breath as R. MacLise scampered down the left side. He successfully avoided all challenges and cracked home the shot for 1 - 0! 30 minutes in, geasers's G. Weaver received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. The swift technical skills of D. Davis were often too much for the tall but somewhat slow E. Beasley who was humiliated after 34 minutes. He'll be breathing a huge sigh of relief after the final shot went wide. D. Davis had a hard time on the waterlogged pitch - his trademark technique was nowhere in sight today. With 42 minutes played, smithstuffers's D. Davis almost extended the lead, but his shot from the left glanced off the top of the bar to fall behind the net. It was 1 - 0 at the break. Possession in this half belonged to smithstuffers, who controlled the ball 54 percent of the time.

With 52 minutes gone, a long pass from the defence of smithstuffers resulted in a counterattack that set K. Ristna free through the middle, but the keeper made a spectacular diving save. H. Lathe of geasers was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. smithstuffers's G. Blanckaert left the field after 69 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was P. Petch. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by smithstuffers, with 52 percent of the ball.

K. Ristna performed admirably for smithstuffers. D. Davis was a disappointment, however. The most dominating geasers player was without a doubt N. Tiley. A. Ellis turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 1 - 0.