League

Herne Bay Stadium
Spectators: 7500 (Terracing: 5625, Seating: 1725, VIP seats: 150) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Simon Elwick took the kick off in the first half of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Reuben Shaw in the 3rd minute of play forced Herne Bay FC's goalkeeper Kristopher Griffiths to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a rather tough play, Herne Bay FC's Harry Devine got a free kick in the 3rd minute. Maldon's attack was well implemented in the 4th minute, but when Simon Elwick was about to shoot he didn't get a good hit on the ball and it hit the crossbar and flew over. Goal Kick. Ivan Pitt's late challenge caught a Herne Bay FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Ivan Pitt helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, Maldon's Ivan Pitt got a free kick in the 6th minute. Ian Haines struck a weak shot in the 8th minute. Duncan Haigh 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. Stewart Dewhirst hit a great freekick 9 minutes into the match. If Ian Haines had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 11th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Giles Reed kicked well hit freekick during the 12th minute of the match. Ian Haines recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 15th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. A collision led to Maldon getting a freekick after 18 minutes play. Ivan Pitt hit a great ball. 20 minutes into the match, Maldon's goal looked a bit too open when Piers Carsley came free, but Duncan Haigh reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Piers Carsley in the 22nd minute of play forced Maldon's goalkeeper Duncan Haigh to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Duncan Haigh made an important save on a dangerous shot by Ian Haines in the 26th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Piers Carsley in the 28th minute of play forced Maldon's goalkeeper Duncan Haigh to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Ian Haines kicked well hit freekick during the 29th minute of the match. 31 minutes into the match, Herne Bay FC's goal looked a bit too open when Simon Elwick came free, but Kristopher Griffiths reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ivan Pitt kicked well hit freekick during the 34th minute of the match. 38 minutes into the match, Maldon's goal looked a bit too open when Piers Carsley came free, but Duncan Haigh reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Reuben Shaw fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 40th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Kristopher Griffiths having to interfere. After having played for 42 minutes, Giles Reed managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Maldon's supporters crossed their fingers, but Giles Reed was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Kristopher Griffiths took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Reuben Shaw, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When Reuben Shaw came up free with the goalie in the 46th minute, the Maldon 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 Reuben Shaw couldn't finish the play. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Piers Carsley was the one to do the kick off. Giles Reed hit a great freekick 51 minutes into the match. If Ian Haines had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 53rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Piers Carsley scored 1-0 in the 55th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Duncan Haigh, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Herne Bay FC's Kristopher Griffiths proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 60th minute of the match, managed to save Herne Bay FC from getting a goal against them. In the 62nd minute Piers Carsley shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Duncan Haigh saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 65th minute, Simon Elwick managed to get in a good position for a shot. Maldon's supporters rose to their feet, but Simon Elwick 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. The Herne Bay FC fans' excitement grew in the 72nd match minute when Herne Bay FC's Piers Carsley 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 2-0 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Ian Haines received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 75th minute. Duncan Haigh tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Giles Reed received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 78th minute. Kristopher Griffiths tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Duncan Haigh showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ian Haines, who was totally free with the ball in the 88th minute. 91 minutes into the match, Maldon's goal looked a bit too open when Piers Carsley came free, but Duncan Haigh reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 92 minutes into the game, Giles Reed was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Maldon's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Herne Bay FC the free kick. Giles Reed hit a great freekick 92 minutes into the match. In the 95th minute Herne Bay FC were awarded a corner. Robin Laycock went to the cornerflag to take it. Herne Bay FC's Robin Laycock was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Duncan Haigh in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Herne Bay FC were really happy, having secured the victory after a very even contest. They thanked the players of Maldon for a fine match.