League

Beckton
Spectators: 9344 (Terracing: 7009, Seating: 2149, VIP seats: 186) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Simon Elwick got the match started through his kick off. Duncan Haigh made an important save on a dangerous shot by Clive Bowler in the 4th minute. When Nigel Hodgson came up free with the goalie in the 5th 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 Nigel Hodgson couldn't finish the play. 8 minutes into the game, Rupert Warburton was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Beckton's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Maldon the free kick. After 8 played minutes Beckton got a freekick which was hit by Rupert Warburton. In the 11th minute, Johnnie Bennett got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. The audience thought a goal was coming when Clive Bowler got free with Duncan Haigh in the 13th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 15th play minute Clive Bowler came free and shot an unsuspected shot which went into goal from the right pole behind a surprised Duncan Haigh. 1-0. In the 18th minute Johnnie Bennett 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. When the match had gone on for 20 minutes, Clive Bowler put it in 2-0 from a short distance just to the right of Duncan Haigh. A collision led to Maldon getting a freekick after 25 minutes play. Ivan Pitt hit a great ball. 26 minutes into the match, Maldon's goalkeeper Duncan Haigh had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Rupert Warburton. After 29 minutes, Clive Bowler made it 3-0 with a short kick to the right side. Maldon's Duncan Haigh tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. After a defensive mix-up in Maldon's zone, Clive Bowler stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Duncan Haigh came out of the goal and Clive Bowler tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After a rather tough play, Maldon's Ivan Pitt got a free kick in the 35th minute. Duncan Haigh made a fantastic save in the 36th minute, when Clive Bowler sent off a good shot on target. The audience was convinced that Johnnie Bennett's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Duncan Haigh was relentless in the 37th minute of the game. In the 39th minute, Clive Bowler made a precise shot to the right of Duncan Haigh. Maldon's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 4-0. The crowd rose to their feet as Johnnie Bennett kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Duncan Haigh. That made the score 5-0 in the 44 minute of play. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 5-0 at half-time.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Clive Bowler to make the kick off. 52 minutes into the match, Clive Bowler had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Duncan Haigh. Maldon's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Clive Bowler was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 6-0. 55 minutes into the match, Clive Bowler had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Duncan Haigh. Maldon's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Clive Bowler was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 7-0. Duncan Haigh stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Clive Bowler's shot from short distance in the 58th minute. In the 63rd minute, Clive Bowler got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. The Beckton fans' excitement grew in the 68th 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 8-0 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. After 73 minutes of play Maldon's Ivan Pitt was too eager in his attempt to stop his opponent and brought him down. With that he got his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. The supporters of Beckton booed when Maldon was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 74 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ivan Pitt didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a rather tough play, Maldon's Ivan Pitt got a free kick in the 75th minute. Beckton's Jo Norton got a good chance for a goal in the 77th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After some fancy dribbling in the 78th minute, Clive Bowler managed to get in a good position for a shot. Beckton's supporters rose to their feet, but Clive Bowler was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Duncan Haigh breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Clive Bowler sent away a hard shot on goal in the 80th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Giles Reed during the 82nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Maldon's Duncan Haigh played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Clive Bowler in the 84th minute of play. Clive Bowler received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 87th minute. Duncan Haigh tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Wayne Radcliffe received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 92nd minute. Duncan Haigh tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Beckton's Clive Bowler in the 94th minute got a chance for a shot 94th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Maldon's goalie prevented a goal. Clive Bowler struck a weak shot in the 96th 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 Beckton. There were very few away supporters still in the ground by the end of the match. Most of them had left early, disgusted by the way their team had been torn apart. Beckton fully deserved thier win.