League

Beckton
Spectators: 9345 (Terracing: 7010, Seating: 2149, VIP seats: 186) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Clive Bowler got the match started through his kick off. If Clive Bowler had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 8th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. A hard shot 11 in the game by Clive Bowler from a close distance when the talented Charlie Hird managed to make a qualified save. Fakenham's players were relieved. In the 13th minute, Ralf Gibbons hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 18 minutes into the match, Beckton's goal looked a bit too open when Hugh Hollingsworth came free, but Les Gibbs reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Rupert Warburton recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 21st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Beckton's Nigel Hodgson got a good chance for a goal in the 23rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. 24 minutes into the match, Fakenham's goalkeeper Charlie Hird had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Clive Bowler. An unexpected shot in the 26th minute by Clive Bowler got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. Hugh Hollingsworth's late challenge caught a Beckton's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Hugh Hollingsworth helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Beckton booed when Fakenham was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 31 match minutes in a wonderful position. Hugh Hollingsworth didn't get a good kick on the ball. Charlie Hird acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 32nd minute, took the ball on the long shot from Rupert Warburton. Clive Bowler's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Charlie Hird firmly grabbed it by the left post. When Johnnie Bennett came up free with the goalie in the 40th minute, the Beckton fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Johnnie Bennett couldn't finish the play. Clive Bowler in the 41stth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Charlie Hird, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Charlie Hird made an important save on a dangerous shot by Dean Bullock in the 43rd minute. 45 minutes into the match, Clive Bowler notched a goal, 2-0, to the right of Fakenham's Charlie Hird. Charlie Hird was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-0 at half-time.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Hugh Hollingsworth to strike the kick off in the second half. 52 minutes into the match, Fakenham's goal looked a bit too open when Clive Bowler came free, but Charlie Hird reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Charlie Hird showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Dean Bullock, who was totally free with the ball in the 53rd minute. 63 minutes into the match, Clive Bowler notched a goal, 5-0, to the right of Fakenham's Charlie Hird. Charlie Hird was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. The Beckton fans' excitement grew in the 71st match minute when Beckton's Clive Bowler looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 6-0 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Wayne Radcliffe blasted a shot towards the goal in the 77th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Charlie Hird having to make a save. If Wayne Radcliffe had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 78th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Clive Bowler scored 7-0 in the 79th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Charlie Hird, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. 84 minutes into the match, Fakenham's goal looked a bit too open when Clive Bowler came free, but Charlie Hird reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Beckton's zone, Russell Bentley stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Les Gibbs came out of the goal and Russell Bentley tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Beckton's Clive Bowler managed to work through Fakenham's defense and was going for an easy goal, but he hit the shot with his toe and the ball flew outside the goal. Clive Bowler dejectedly held out his arms as if to ask why the ball hadn't gone in. Charlie Hird took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nigel Hodgson, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side.