League

South Shields
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Martin Braithwaite took the kick off in the first half of the match. The supporters of South Shields booed when Hailsham was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 2 match minutes in a wonderful position. Sid Wardle didn't get a good kick on the ball. 4 minutes into the match, Hailsham's goalkeeper Rio Short had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Stuart Welch. If Neil Slade had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 8th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Vince Piercy showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Zak Hargreaves, who was totally free with the ball in the 11th minute. Neil Slade fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 12th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rio Short having to interfere. Grant Shipperley hit a great freekick 16 minutes into the match. Vince Piercy made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Zak Hargreaves in the 20th minute of play. After having played for 23 minutes, Neil Slade managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. South Shields's supporters crossed their fingers, but Neil Slade was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 26th minute, Neil Slade 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. Vince Piercy took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Martin Braithwaite, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Vince Piercy took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Martin Braithwaite, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 32 minutes into the game, Martin Braithwaite cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-1. Vince Piercy was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. When Neil Slade, who was free, got the in front of the goal in the 35 minute he wasn't focused and tipped the ball just over the goal. The Rio Short was delighted since the ball would have got in if it had gone under the crossbar. Adrian Wildman struck a weak shot in the 37th minute. Rio Short didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for South Shields. South Shields's Neil Slade got a good chance for a goal in the 38th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. 41 minutes into the match, Neil Slade dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Rio Short, 2-1. Neil Slade received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 44th minute. Rio Short tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

53 minutes into the match, South Shields's Neil Slade sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Rio Short narrowly saved just below the crossbar. South Shields's Vince Piercy played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Martin Braithwaite in the 55th minute of play. After 56 played minutes South Shields got a freekick which was hit by Cliff Stockdale. Neil Slade recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 58th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 64 minutes into the match, Neil Slade notched a goal, 3-1, to the right of Hailsham's Rio Short. Rio Short was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. If Stuart Welch had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 67th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 69 minutes into the match, Hailsham's goal looked a bit too open when Neil Slade came free, but Rio Short reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Adrian Wildman recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 72nd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Dom Miller received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 74th minute. Rio Short tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 76th minute Neil Slade shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rio Short saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Neil Slade fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 80th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rio Short having to interfere. Stuart Welch received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 82nd minute. Rio Short tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 84thth minute of the game Neil Slade who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Hailsham's Rio Short was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. 85 minutes into the match, Hailsham's goal looked a bit too open when Neil Slade came free, but Rio Short reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 88th minute, Hailsham's Zak Hargreaves ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Vince Piercy. Vince Piercy yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 3-2. In the 91st minute the ball was on its way in behind Hailsham's goalkeeper Rio Short, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 93 minutes into the match, South Shields's Stuart Welch sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Rio Short narrowly saved just below the crossbar. 96 minutes into the match, South Shields's goal looked a bit too open when Martin Braithwaite came free, but Vince Piercy reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. There were very few away supporters still in the ground by the end of the match. Most of them had left early, disgusted by the way their team had been torn apart. South Shields fully deserved thier win.