League

Fordham
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Nigel Clist kicked off to start the match. When Basildon City's Gordon Clegg in the 3rd minute got a chance for a shot 3rd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Fordham FC's goalie prevented a goal. If Nigel Clist had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 5th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 8th minute Brian Wardle suffered a thigh injury and had to be helped off the field. In the 11th minute, Gordon Clegg 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. After having played for 12 minutes, Rodd Charles managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Basildon City's supporters crossed their fingers, but Rodd Charles was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. If Gordon Clegg had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 13th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 18 minutes into the game, Dominic Beerman cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-0. Guy Crooks was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Drew Cain showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gordon Clegg, who was totally free with the ball in the 29th minute. Zack Devine fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 35th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Drew Cain having to interfere. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 38th minute of the game. One of Fordham FC:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Basildon City:s goal. The referee gave Basildon City a penalty, 40 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Keanu Hayles, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Fordham FC's Drew Cain. 1-2. Dominic Beerman sent away a hard shot on goal in the 47th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After the first half Basildon City were leading 1-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Jonathon Manson was the one to do the kick off. If Gordon Clegg had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 51st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Sonny Croyden sent away a hard shot on goal in the 52nd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Guy Crooks took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Jonathon Manson, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 60th minute, Dominic Beerman 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. Guy Crooks came out of the goal in the 65th minute to try and stop a shot by Fordham FC's Jonathon Manson. But to his dismay, Jonathon Manson quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-2. When the match had gone on for 71 minutes, Jonathon Manson put it in 3-2 from a short distance just to the right of Guy Crooks. In the 74th minute, Marc Sheringham hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. With his leg Drew Cain managed to avoid a goal in the 75thth minute, when Basildon City's Gordon Clegg fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. After a defensive mix-up in Fordham FC's zone, Gordon Clegg stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Drew Cain came out of the goal and Gordon Clegg tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. If Rodd Charles had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 79th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 81st minute, Gordon Clegg 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. Rodd Charles sent away a hard shot on goal in the 86th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Dylon Blackwater during the 87th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Basildon City's Zack Devine got a good chance for a goal in the 90th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The Fordham FC players were eager to celebrate when the final whistle sounded. They had somehow managed to win, even though the away team had held the majority of the possession.