League

Herne Bay Stadium
Spectators: 7500 (Terracing: 5625, Seating: 1725, VIP seats: 150) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Piers Carsley got the match started through his kick off. Geoff Sullivan received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 4th minute. Kristopher Griffiths tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Kristopher Griffiths stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Geoff Sullivan's shot from short distance in the 9th minute. When Chelmsford's Geoff Sullivan in 9 game minutes managed to cut through with the ball in front of the goal, only having to shoot. Kristopher Griffiths guarding the goal like a pit bull was extremely focused and managed to reach the ball just by the crossbar before it went in. 10 minutes into the match, Chelmsford's Geoff Sullivan sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Kristopher Griffiths narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 12th minute Phillip Dove shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Kristopher Griffiths saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a rather tough play, Herne Bay FC's Harry Devine got a free kick in the 12th minute. After some fancy dribbling in the 15th minute, Phillip Dove managed to get in a good position for a shot. Chelmsford's supporters rose to their feet, but Phillip Dove was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Kristopher Griffiths breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Justin Champion kicked well hit freekick during the 15th minute of the match. In the 21st minute, Piers Carsley reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Tod Gale. The goal made the score 1-0. Kristopher Griffiths took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Stan Leather, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 29 minutes into the game, Chelmsford's Geoff Sullivan nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Kristopher Griffiths made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-1. Phillip Dove sent away a hard shot on goal in the 34th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Harry Devine hit a great freekick 37 minutes into the match. Geoff Sullivan fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 39th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Kristopher Griffiths having to interfere. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Rufus Welsh during the 43rd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. 42 minutes into the game, one of Herne Bay FC:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. Kristopher Griffiths went to the wrong direction when Lance Pearson was taking care of the penalty kick which however missed the goal. Geoff Sullivan received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 46th minute. Kristopher Griffiths tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 1-1 after a close first half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Geoff Sullivan to make the kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ian Haines in the 52nd minute of play forced Chelmsford's goalkeeper Tod Gale to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Stan Leather hit a great freekick 57 minutes into the match. Robin Laycock was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 58th played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. Piers Carsley struck a weak shot in the 59th minute. Tod Gale didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Herne Bay FC. Chelmsford's Tod Gale played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Piers Carsley in the 65th minute of play. Phillip Dove sent away a hard shot on goal in the 71st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Tod Gale made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Piers Carsley in the 74th minute of play. Kristopher Griffiths was a little too slow when Geoff Sullivan got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 76th minute. The score was now 1-2. Piers Carsley fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 81st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Tod Gale having to interfere. Phillip Dove struck a weak shot in the 85th minute. Kristopher Griffiths didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Chelmsford. After 88 minutes Herne Bay FC's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Lance Pearson who took care of the corner kick. Lance Pearson made a great header on Chelmsford's corner, it was just that Herne Bay FC's Kristopher Griffiths managed to reach the ball for a save. In the 89th match minute, Chelmsford was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Bart Winship to maneuver through the defense. When the match was over Chelmsford could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Herne Bay FC throughout the match.