League

Purfleet
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Dave Markinson made the kick off which started today's match. In the 8th minute of the match, Martyn Hatcher got a very nice opportunity to score, but Alfred Hunt was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. The supporters of South Benfleet FC booed when Liverpool FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 12 match minutes in a wonderful position. Gary Story-Moore didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Luke Sedgemore had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 14th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 16th minute Dave Markinson 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. After 17 played minutes South Benfleet FC got a freekick which was hit by Danny Humphreys. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Danny Humphreys during the 20th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 20th match minute, South Benfleet FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Danny Humphreys to maneuver through the defense. Eddy Sheppard didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Austen Stone went, in the 23rd minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. After some fancy dribbling in the 29th minute, Austen Stone managed to get in a good position for a shot. South Benfleet FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Austen Stone was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Eddy Sheppard breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 31st minute, Liverpool FC's Bruce Lamb dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-1. Eddy Sheppard took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Austen Stone, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 39 minutes into the match, South Benfleet FC's goalkeeper Alfred Hunt had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Martyn Hatcher. Martyn Hatcher came free with the goalkeeper in the 41st minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Alfred Hunt could save by the left post. In the 46th minute, South Benfleet FC's Danny Humphreys seemed to kick out at an opponent. The referee saw this and, surprisingly, showed Danny Humphreys the red card, dismissing him from the pitch. The coaching staff of South Benfleet FC protested bitterly, but the referee would have none of it, and Danny Humphreys had no choice but to slowly walk off the pitch. After 47 played minutes South Benfleet FC got a freekick which was hit by Danny Humphreys. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Alistair Kirk to strike the kick off in the second half. Dave Markinson took the ball and in the 53 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Alfred Hunt. Alfred Hunt dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-1. The audience was convinced that Dave Markinson's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Alfred Hunt was relentless in the 56th minute of the game. Alfred Hunt showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Dave Markinson in the 58th minute of the match. After 60 minutes of play, Liverpool FC's Dave Markinson made it 3-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Alfred Hunt was left in no man's land by his defense there! 64 minutes into the match, Liverpool FC's Martyn Hatcher sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Alfred Hunt narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Luke Sedgemore fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 65th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Eddy Sheppard having to interfere. In the 68th minute, Dave Markinson made a precise shot to the right of Alfred Hunt. South Benfleet FC's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 4-1. Austen Stone hit a great freekick 71 minutes into the match. Jamie Hanley was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 72nd played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. If Alistair Kirk had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 76th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. South Benfleet FC's Alfred Hunt played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gary Story-Moore in the 78th minute of play. Luke Sedgemore took the ball and in the 82 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Eddy Sheppard. Eddy Sheppard 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. 85 minutes into the match, South Benfleet FC's Alistair Kirk sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Eddy Sheppard narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Alistair Kirk sent away a hard shot on goal in the 87th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Alfred Hunt made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Martyn Hatcher in the 91st minute of play. For all the effort they put into the match, the South Benfleet FC players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Liverpool FC.