League

South Benfleet
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Gaz Kellaway got the match started through his kick off. In the 4th minute Joe Scott shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Alfred Hunt saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 7 minutes into the game, Polonia Gloucester's Trevor Wilkins nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Alfred Hunt made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. Gaz Kellaway scored 0-2 in the 11th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Alfred Hunt, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. 17 minutes into the match, Polonia Gloucester's goal looked a bit too open when Austen Stone came free, but Gerry Browne reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Austen Stone was extremely unlucky when he, in the 20th minute, took a shot that hit the right post and went out. Gerry Browne was out of position in the 24 minute of play, and Austen Stone capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Austen Stone really showed his touch with that goal: 1-2. In the 28th minute Les Rathmell shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Alfred Hunt saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Austen Stone received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 31st minute. Gerry Browne tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Alistair Kirk had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 36th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Austen Stone recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 38th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After having played for 39 minutes, Austen Stone managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. South Benfleet FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Austen Stone was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 41 minutes into the match, Polonia Gloucester's goalkeeper Gerry Browne had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Austen Stone. With splendid footwork Austen Stone arrived in front of goal to shoot 2-2 by the left pole in the game's 42nd minute. Alfred Hunt showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gaz Kellaway in the 47th minute of the match. The score stood at 2-2 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

When Austen Stone, who was free, got the in front of the goal in the 54 minute he wasn't focused and tipped the ball just over the goal. The Gerry Browne was delighted since the ball would have got in if it had gone under the crossbar. When Alistair Kirk came up free with the goalie in the 56th minute, the South Benfleet 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 Alistair Kirk couldn't finish the play. Alfred Hunt took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gaz Kellaway, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Danny Humphreys 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. In the 69th minute of the match Sly Gallagher sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Alfred Hunt skillfully saved the ball. Joe Scott's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 71stth minute, Alfred Hunt skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. After a defensive mix-up in Polonia Gloucester's zone, Austen Stone stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Gerry Browne came out of the goal and Austen Stone tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Austen Stone took the ball and in the 75 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Gerry Browne. Gerry Browne dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 4-2. After 79 minutes of play, South Benfleet FC's Austen Stone made it 5-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Gerry Browne was left in no man's land by his defense there! The audience thought a goal was coming when Les Rathmell got free with Alfred Hunt in the 84th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Polonia Gloucester's Sly Gallagher got a good chance for a goal in the 87th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. 89 minutes into the match, Joe Scott dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Alfred Hunt, 5-3. For all the effort they put into the match, the Polonia Gloucester players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for South Benfleet FC.