League

Thornhill
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Dale Peakman received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 7th minute. Stewart Hepburn tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Dale Peakman came up free with the goalie in the 16th 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 Dale Peakman couldn't finish the play. Freddie Houghton fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 18th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Stewart Hepburn having to interfere. Dale Peakman's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Stewart Hepburn read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 20th minute of play. After a rather tough play, Manchester City's Bruce Batty got a free kick in the 25th minute. In the 28th minute, Freddie Houghton left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Heybridge Basin United fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. When Byron Cotton fell near the penalty area in the 31st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Heybridge Basin United's protests and gave Byron Cotton a yellow card for diving instead. 37 minutes into the match, Stew Osborn had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Simon Haigh. Heybridge Basin United's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Stew Osborn was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-1. Stewart Hepburn didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Freddie Houghton went, in the 40th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-2 was the resulting score. In the 47th minute Heybridge Basin United were awarded a corner. Shawn Griffin went to the cornerflag to take it. After 47 minutes, Stew Osborn mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Manchester City and the Heybridge Basin United players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 48th minute, Stew Osborn hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After having played for 48 minutes, Shawn Griffin managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Heybridge Basin United's supporters crossed their fingers, but Shawn Griffin was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 2-2 after a close first half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Calvin Wakefield to make the kick off. Manchester City's Stew Osborn got a good chance for a goal in the 53rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Dale Peakman recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 59th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 61 minutes into the game, Dale Peakman cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-3. Stewart Hepburn was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Simon Haigh showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Calvin Wakefield, who was totally free with the ball in the 64th minute. Stewart Hepburn showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Freddie Houghton, who was totally free with the ball in the 67th minute. Dale Peakman struck a weak shot in the 75th minute. Stewart Hepburn didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Heybridge Basin United. Simon Haigh showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Stew Osborn in the 78th minute of the match. Stew Osborn sent away a hard shot on goal in the 89th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a rather tough play, Heybridge Basin United's Chris Burley got a free kick in the 90th minute. Stew Osborn fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 93rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Simon Haigh having to interfere. Calvin Wakefield's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Simon Haigh read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 95th minute of play. 98 minutes into the game, Freddie Houghton recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Stewart Hepburn. Freddie Houghton showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 2-4. Heybridge Basin United's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.