League

Piccalilli Park
Spectators: 7536 (Terracing: 5653, Seating: 1733, VIP seats: 150) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when John Paul Paterson kicked off to start the match. After a rather tough play, Blackburn Olympic's Spike Impey got a free kick in the 3rd minute. Lee Birchall showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Bruce Nailor, who was totally free with the ball in the 5th minute. After a rather tough play, Hawkcombe's Kasey Butterfield got a free kick in the 8th minute. After having played for 9 minutes, Albert Bowe managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Blackburn Olympic's supporters crossed their fingers, but Albert Bowe was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 16 minutes into the game, Spike Impey was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Blackburn Olympic's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Hawkcombe the free kick. In the 16th match minute, Blackburn Olympic was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Spike Impey to maneuver through the defense. In the 17th minute of the match Kasey Butterfield shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Lee Birchall showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. In the 18th minute, Bruce Nailor 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. Albert Bowe sent away a hard shot on goal in the 21st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After some fancy dribbling in the 24th minute, Bruce Nailor managed to get in a good position for a shot. Hawkcombe's supporters rose to their feet, but Bruce Nailor was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Lee Birchall breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Lee Birchall took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from John Paul Paterson, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 29th minute Bruce Nailor shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Lee Birchall saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Blackburn Olympic's Lee Birchall played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Bruce Nailor in the 32nd minute of play. The supporters of Blackburn Olympic booed when Hawkcombe was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 40 match minutes in a wonderful position. Huey Brookes didn't get a good kick on the ball. The long shot by Jeff Wilmott in the 41st minute really tested Malcolm McCunnie's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal. John Paul Paterson fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 43rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Lee Birchall having to interfere. Spike Impey received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 46th minute. Malcolm McCunnie tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After the first half Hawkcombe were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Albert Bowe to strike the kick off in the second half. Lee Birchall didn't succeed to prevent the ball from going into goal when Hawkcombe's Bruce Nailor shot an unexpected shot in the crossbar's under edge and made 0-2 in the ordered_time% minute. 61 minutes into the game, Hawkcombe's John Paul Paterson nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Lee Birchall made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-3. Lee Birchall stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of John Paul Paterson's shot from short distance in the 72nd minute. 74 minutes in the game, John Paul Paterson fired away an excellent shot, which passed to the side of the right post without Lee Birchall having to interfere. Bruce Nailor in the 76thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Lee Birchall, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. When Bruce Nailor came up free with the goalie in the 85th minute, the Hawkcombe 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 Bruce Nailor couldn't finish the play. When the final whistle sounded Hawkcombe left the ground with the victory after a much better performance than Blackburn Olympic.