League

Houghton Regis Park
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Den Burley took the kick off in the first half of the match. When Kurt Buckle fell near the penalty area in the 5th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Alnwick's protests and gave Kurt Buckle a yellow card for diving instead. Kurt Buckle hit a great freekick 5 minutes into the match. Drew Beardsley was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 6th played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. In the 10th minute Damion Foggarty shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Chris Mansell saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Den Burley had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 15th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After some fancy dribbling in the 25th minute, Liam Ridsdale managed to get in a good position for a shot. Houghton Regis City's supporters rose to their feet, but Liam Ridsdale was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Josh Naisbitt breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The supporters of Houghton Regis City booed when Alnwick was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 26 match minutes in a wonderful position. Stew Bower didn't get a good kick on the ball. Josh Naisbitt made an important save on a dangerous shot by Liam Ridsdale in the 29th minute. Alnwick's defense didn't have a chance, in the 29th minute, when Liam Ridsdale scored to the left of an out of position Josh Naisbitt, making the score, 1-1. CJ Dove could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 35th minute of the match, but Josh Naisbitt made a huge save. Damion Foggarty kicked well hit freekick during the 41st minute of the match. 45 minutes into the match, Houghton Regis City's goal looked a bit too open when Damion Foggarty came free, but Chris Mansell reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Thomas Boothroyd blasted a shot towards the goal in the 47th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Chris Mansell having to make a save. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 2-1.

The wind increased when Thomas Boothroyd made the kick off in the second half. After 50 minutes, Greg Fielden mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Houghton Regis City and the Alnwick players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to Houghton Regis City getting a freekick after 50 minutes play. Greg Fielden hit a great ball. With an all-out effort, Alnwick's Chris Mansell threw himself towards the right post 52 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Thomas Boothroyd, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Jack Kempson hit a great freekick 53 minutes into the match. 56 minutes into the match, Houghton Regis City's Den Burley sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Josh Naisbitt narrowly saved just below the crossbar. 57 minutes into the match, Alnwick's goal looked a bit too open when Den Burley came free, but Josh Naisbitt reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Den Burley in the 58th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Josh Naisbitt saved Alnwick from getting behind. After 63 played minutes Houghton Regis City got a freekick which was hit by CJ Dove. 71 minutes into the match, Alnwick's goal looked a bit too open when Den Burley came free, but Josh Naisbitt reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Thomas Boothroyd's late challenge caught a Houghton Regis City's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Thomas Boothroyd helped the player get up and apologised. After 72 played minutes Alnwick got a freekick which was hit by Thomas Boothroyd. When Damion Foggarty came up free with the goalie in the 80th minute, the Alnwick 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 Damion Foggarty couldn't finish the play. If Thomas Boothroyd had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 82nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. During the 83rd minute of the match Kurt Buckle completely mistimed his tackle and brought down his opponent. The referee gave Kurt Buckle a yellow card, his second in the match, which meant he could no longer take part in the game. In the 84th minute, Kurt Buckle hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Den Burley might have been able to make a better finish in the 89th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Josh Naisbitt. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Den Burley ran back to his position shaking his head. Damion Foggarty struck a weak shot in the 90th minute. Chris Mansell didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Alnwick.