League

Wokingham
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Wokingham's Curtis Browning started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Curtis Browning blasted a shot towards the goal in the 5th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Ashley Harding having to make a save. Joe Booker took the ball and in the 8 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Ashley Harding. Ashley Harding dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-0. Will Burgess received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 12th minute. Phil Timmins tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A collision led to Hale getting a freekick after 15 minutes play. Danny Bradbury hit a great ball. Garry Draper kicked well hit freekick during the 17th minute of the match. Phil Timmins stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Will Burgess's shot from short distance in the 23rd minute. Will Burgess fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 24th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Phil Timmins having to interfere. 28 minutes into the game, Garry Draper was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Hale's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Wokingham the free kick. After 28 played minutes Hale got a freekick which was hit by Garry Draper. After 31 played minutes Hale got a freekick which was hit by Huey Beckford. In the 32nd minute, Curtis Browning 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. When Hale's Robin Eadan in the 34th minute got a chance for a shot 34th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Wokingham's goalie prevented a goal. In the 35th minute, one of Wokingham:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Wokingham. After 42 played minutes Wokingham got a freekick which was hit by Graeme Castleton. 43 minutes into the game, Hale's Will Burgess nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Phil Timmins made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-2. An unexpectedly hard shot by Will Burgess in the 47th minute of play forced Wokingham's goalkeeper Phil Timmins to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Will Burgess to make the kick off. Joe Booker scored 3-2 in the 53rd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Ashley Harding, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Wokingham's defense didn't have a chance, in the 58th minute, when Robin Eadan scored to the left of an out of position Phil Timmins, making the score, 3-3. Curtis Browning's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Ashley Harding read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 62nd minute of play. In the 65th minute Will Burgess shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Phil Timmins saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 71st minute the ball was on its way in behind Hale's goalkeeper Ashley Harding, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After 72 played minutes Hale got a freekick which was hit by Garry Draper. An unexpectedly hard shot by Will Burgess in the 74th minute of play forced Wokingham's goalkeeper Phil Timmins to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Ashley Harding showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Joe Booker, who was totally free with the ball in the 75th minute. Curtis Browning received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 76th minute. Ashley Harding tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Wokingham's Phil Timmins played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Will Burgess in the 80th minute of play. Phil Timmins showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Will Burgess, who was totally free with the ball in the 82nd minute. Robin Eadan fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 83rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Phil Timmins having to interfere. After 84 played minutes Wokingham got a freekick which was hit by Orson Lawton. Curtis Browning's late challenge caught a Hale's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Curtis Browning helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to Wokingham getting a freekick after 86 minutes play. Curtis Browning hit a great ball. Phil Timmins showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Will Burgess in the 87th minute of the match. The crowd rose to their feet as Hale's Will Burgess slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Phil Timmins. That made the score 3-4 after 91 minutes of play. Ashley Harding showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Toby Almond in the 94th minute of the match. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Hale eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.