League

Hadleigh
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Romford's Darryl Fisher 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. If Ricky Sparkes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 2nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In a very dangerous position, a player in Romford fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 5th minute. Penalty! The goalkeeper, Paddy Doughty, was totally fooled by Hadleigh FC's Sam Astridge, who 7 minutes into the game made a penalty shot that went in on the goalkeeper's left side. With his leg Paddy Doughty managed to avoid a goal in the 10thth minute, when Hadleigh FC's Simon Cooke fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Paddy Doughty took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ricky Sparkes, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a defensive mix-up in Hadleigh FC's zone, Brad Hibbert stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Wayne Hanley came out of the goal and Brad Hibbert tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Darryl Fisher sent away a hard shot on goal in the 19th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 22 played minutes Hadleigh FC got a freekick which was hit by Phillip Waite. Ricky Sparkes received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 32nd minute. Paddy Doughty tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After some fancy dribbling in the 34th minute, Ricky Sparkes managed to get in a good position for a shot. Hadleigh FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Ricky Sparkes was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Paddy Doughty breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The supporters of Hadleigh FC booed when Romford was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 35 match minutes in a wonderful position. Todd Holden didn't get a good kick on the ball. An unexpected shot in the 37th minute by Simon Cooke got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. Todd Holden hit a great freekick 40 minutes into the match. Wayne Hanley made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Brad Hibbert in the 42nd minute of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 45th minute, Simon Cooke managed to get in a good position for a shot. Hadleigh FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Simon Cooke was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Paddy Doughty breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 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.

In the 52nd minute, Romford's Darryl Fisher dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-2. In the 54th minute, Darryl Fisher reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Wayne Hanley. The goal made the score 1-3. Ricky Sparkes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 62nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a defensive mix-up in Hadleigh FC's zone, Darryl Fisher stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Wayne Hanley came out of the goal and Darryl Fisher tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Brad Hibbert got free with Wayne Hanley in the 67th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Simon Cooke struck a weak shot in the 71st minute. Paddy Doughty didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Hadleigh FC. Darryl Fisher sent away a hard shot on goal in the 73rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a rather tough play, Romford's Ben Pitman got a free kick in the 76th minute. When Ricky Sparkes came up free with the goalie in the 77th minute, the Hadleigh FC 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 Ricky Sparkes couldn't finish the play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Ronny Panther during the 81st minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Ronny Panther hit a great freekick 82 minutes into the match. Paddy Doughty took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ricky Sparkes, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Ricky Sparkes received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 88th minute. Paddy Doughty tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 90 minutes into the game, Simon Cooke cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-3. Paddy Doughty was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. Romford walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.