League

Rawtenstall Park
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Tommy Stonehouse took the kick off in the first half of the match. Marty Jenkins didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Tommy Brooks went, in the 3rd minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. If Tommy Brooks had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 7th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When the match had gone on for 10 minutes, Kristian Best put it in 0-2 from a short distance just to the right of Marty Jenkins. Marty Jenkins made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tommy Brooks in the 15th minute of play. In the 18th minute, Franz Musgrove 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. Thanks to some nice moves Graham Branston could shoot a difficult shot in the 20th minute, which Sly Duckworth however easily saved by the left post. The supporters of Hilperton United booed when Rawtenstall was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 21 match minutes in a wonderful position. Steve Furlong didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 25th minute of the match Conan Hewitt sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Marty Jenkins skillfully saved the ball. When Tommy Stonehouse came up free with the goalie in the 30th minute, the Rawtenstall 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 Tommy Stonehouse couldn't finish the play. A collision led to Hilperton United getting a freekick after 31 minutes play. Stewart Croft hit a great ball. In the 33rd minute, Franz Musgrove hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Kristian Best had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 35th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Tommy Brooks in the 39th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Marty Jenkins prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Graham Branston fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 41st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Sly Duckworth having to interfere. Hilperton United's Tommy Brooks got a good chance for a goal in the 44th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Hilperton United's Sly Duckworth played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Tommy Stonehouse in the 47th minute of play. 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.

The supporters of Hilperton United booed when Rawtenstall was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 56 match minutes in a wonderful position. Steve Furlong didn't get a good kick on the ball. Marty Jenkins made an important save on a dangerous shot by Kristian Best in the 57th minute. If Kristian Best had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 61st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Tommy Brooks hit a great freekick 66 minutes into the match. Tommy Stonehouse fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 67th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Sly Duckworth having to interfere. Sly Duckworth showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Tommy Stonehouse, who was totally free with the ball in the 73rd minute. Tommy Stonehouse took the ball and in the 77 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Sly Duckworth. Sly Duckworth dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-2. Franz Musgrove hit a great freekick 82 minutes into the match. Sly Duckworth showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Tommy Stonehouse, who was totally free with the ball in the 82nd minute. In the 83rd minute, Franz Musgrove hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. When Tommy Brooks came up free with the goalie in the 87th minute, the Hilperton 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 Tommy Brooks couldn't finish the play. The teams fought very hard right up to the final whistle. Both sets of players were happy to go away with a draw.