League

Horsham
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) After having played for 10 minutes, Johnnie Metcalfe managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Halesowen FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Johnnie Metcalfe was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Barry Nailor's late challenge caught a Halesowen FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Barry Nailor helped the player get up and apologised. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 14th minute of the game. One of Halesowen FC:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Horsham:s goal. Halesowen FC:s Gav Blakewell showed great skill when he stopped Reggie Waple:s penalty. Barry Nailor could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 17th minute of the match, but Gav Blakewell made a huge save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Glyn Oliver in the 19th minute of play forced Halesowen FC's goalkeeper Gav Blakewell to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Gav Blakewell made a fantastic save in the 23rd minute, when Barry Nailor sent off a good shot on target. If Glyn Oliver had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 27th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 32 played minutes Halesowen FC got a freekick which was hit by Johnnie Metcalfe. If Barry Nailor had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 34th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 39 minutes into the game, Mickey Merrill was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Halesowen FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Horsham the free kick. Mickey Merrill kicked well hit freekick during the 40th minute of the match. After a defensive mix-up in Halesowen FC's zone, Glyn Oliver stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Gav Blakewell came out of the goal and Glyn Oliver 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 Barry Nailor got free with Gav Blakewell in the 44th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 45 minutes into the match, Halesowen FC's goal looked a bit too open when Glyn Oliver came free, but Gav Blakewell reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 47th minute of the match, Glyn Oliver tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Gav Blakewell saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. 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.

When Rich Bailey fell near the penalty area in the 53rd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Horsham's protests and gave Rich Bailey a yellow card for diving instead. Rich Bailey hit a great freekick 53 minutes into the match. In the 59th minute, Mark Tonkin fired away a shot on goal. He put a little to much spin on the ball and sent it just wide of the right post. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 59th minute of the game. One of Horsham:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Halesowen FC:s goal. Stephen Litchfield shot the penalty kick right outside the post. In the 63rd minute, Halesowen FC's Mark Tonkin dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 0-1. Halesowen FC's Gav Blakewell played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Barry Nailor in the 68th minute of play. Glyn Oliver took the ball and in the 73 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Gav Blakewell. Gav Blakewell dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-1. Gav Blakewell showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Glyn Oliver, who was totally free with the ball in the 76th minute. Johnnie Metcalfe hit a great freekick 76 minutes into the match. After having played for 80 minutes, Barry Nailor managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Horsham's supporters crossed their fingers, but Barry Nailor was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After some careless play in the Halesowen FC defense, Barry Nailor kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Gav Blakewell. The Halesowen FC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Gav Blakewell should have stopped the shot. In the 86thth minute of the game Barry Nailor who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Halesowen FC's Gav Blakewell was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. After having played for 88 minutes, Glyn Oliver managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Horsham's supporters crossed their fingers, but Glyn Oliver was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Gav Blakewell didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Glyn Oliver went, in the 90th minute, to the upper right corner, 3-1 was the resulting score. After some fancy dribbling in the 95th minute, Barry Nailor managed to get in a good position for a shot. Horsham's supporters rose to their feet, but Barry Nailor was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Gav Blakewell breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 98th minute, Barry Nailor 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.