League

Cromer Stadium
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Alastair Webb kicked off to start the match. Matthew Halliday had in the 5thth minute some difficulties stopping Archie Gardner's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. Matthew Halliday took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alastair Webb, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a defensive mix-up in Heybridge Basin United's zone, Nicky Portway stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Edward Brighton came out of the goal and Nicky Portway tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Alastair Webb sent away a hard shot on goal in the 18th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Alastair Webb in the 20th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Matthew Halliday prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Zack Cutts took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 22nd minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Matthew Halliday. Cromer's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Dale Atkins received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 24th minute. Edward Brighton tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in Cromer's zone, Kirk Chapman stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Matthew Halliday came out of the goal and Kirk Chapman tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Dale Atkins charged in rather forcefully in the 30th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Dale Atkins the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 30 played minutes Cromer got a freekick which was hit by Dale Atkins. After some fancy dribbling in the 32nd minute, Kirk Chapman managed to get in a good position for a shot. Heybridge Basin United's supporters rose to their feet, but Kirk Chapman was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Matthew Halliday breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 33 minutes into the game, Paul Gilchrist was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Cromer's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Heybridge Basin United the free kick. The supporters of Heybridge Basin United booed when Cromer was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 33 match minutes in a wonderful position. Paul Gilchrist didn't get a good kick on the ball. 35 minutes into the match, Cromer's goal looked a bit too open when Alastair Webb came free, but Matthew Halliday reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Paul Gilchrist scored 1-0 in the 36th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Edward Brighton, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. If Alastair Webb had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 46th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 2-0 at half-time.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Paul Gilchrist was the one to do the kick off. Edward Brighton took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nicky Portway, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Nicky Portway had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 54th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. The crowd rose to their feet as Heybridge Basin United's Alastair Webb slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Matthew Halliday. That made the score 2-1 after 56 minutes of play. Alastair Webb was extremely unlucky when he, in the 60th minute, took a shot that hit the right post and went out. After 61 played minutes Cromer got a freekick which was hit by Paul Gilchrist. 63 minutes into the match, Nicky Portway had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Edward Brighton. Heybridge Basin United's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Nicky Portway was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 3-1. After 67 played minutes Cromer got a freekick which was hit by Dale Atkins. Matthew Halliday stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Alastair Webb's shot from short distance in the 73rd minute. When Kirk Chapman came up free with the goalie in the 74th minute, the Heybridge Basin United 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 Kirk Chapman couldn't finish the play. After some fancy dribbling in the 81st minute, Paul Gilchrist managed to get in a good position for a shot. Cromer's supporters rose to their feet, but Paul Gilchrist was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Edward Brighton breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 83rd minute, Nicky Portway 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. Nicky Portway received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 85th minute. Edward Brighton tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Alastair Webb received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 87th minute. Matthew Halliday tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After having played for 89 minutes, Kirk Chapman managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Heybridge Basin United's supporters crossed their fingers, but Kirk Chapman was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. It was no surprise that this one had ended in a win for the home team. Cromer had played much better football throughout.