League

Hexham Park
Spectators: 6779 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1729, VIP seats: 50) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Ken Hardcastle started the match with the kick off. In the 3rd minute the ball was on its way in behind Hadlow Harriers's goalkeeper Mike Boatman, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Rugeley FC's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Alec Westlake in the 7th minute. Alec Westlake made a great header on Rugeley FC's corner, it was just that Hadlow Harriers's Mike Boatman managed to reach the ball for a save. When Eddy Hill, who was free, got the in front of the goal in the 9 minute he wasn't focused and tipped the ball just over the goal. The Mike Boatman was delighted since the ball would have got in if it had gone under the crossbar. Mike Boatman showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Eddy Hill, who was totally free with the ball in the 12th minute. Eddy Hill fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 14th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Mike Boatman having to interfere. Mike Boatman came out of the goal in the 16th minute to try and stop a shot by Rugeley FC's Martyn Fitter. But to his dismay, Martyn Fitter quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. Eddy Hill recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 27th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Zane Reeve's late challenge caught a Rugeley FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Zane Reeve helped the player get up and apologised. Zane Reeve kicked well hit freekick during the 32nd minute of the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 36th minute, Martyn Fitter managed to get in a good position for a shot. Rugeley FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Martyn Fitter was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Mike Boatman breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Martyn Fitter sent away a hard shot on goal in the 39th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Rugeley FC's Eddy Hill got a good chance for a goal in the 43rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Martyn Fitter made a kick off. When Rugeley FC's Martyn Fitter in the 54th minute got a chance for a shot 54th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Hadlow Harriers's goalie prevented a goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Martyn Fitter in the 56th minute of play forced Hadlow Harriers's goalkeeper Mike Boatman to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 57th minute, Hadlow Harriers's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Eddy Hill fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. 59 minutes into the match, Hadlow Harriers's goal looked a bit too open when Martyn Fitter came free, but Mike Boatman reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 62 played minutes Hadlow Harriers got a freekick which was hit by Jay Welch. Hadlow Harriers's Mike Boatman played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Martyn Fitter in the 72nd minute of play. Eddy Hill sent away a hard shot on goal in the 73rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Martyn Fitter received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 75th minute. Mike Boatman tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 76th match minute, Hadlow Harriers was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ken Hardcastle to maneuver through the defense. Eddy Hill fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 82nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Mike Boatman having to interfere. 84 minutes into the match, Rugeley FC's Martyn Fitter sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Mike Boatman narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Mike Boatman made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Martyn Fitter in the 86th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Martyn Fitter in the 88th minute of play forced Hadlow Harriers's goalkeeper Mike Boatman to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The audience was convinced that Martyn Fitter's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Mike Boatman was relentless in the 90th minute of the game. 93 minutes into the match, Hadlow Harriers's goal looked a bit too open when Martyn Fitter came free, but Mike Boatman reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Eddy Hill received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 98th minute. Mike Boatman tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere.