League

Rickmansworth
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Tim Ricketts started the match with the kick off. In the 3rd minute Tim Ricketts shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Justin Hughes saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 4 minutes into the match, Kris Preece notched a goal, 1-0, to the right of Harrogate's Justin Hughes. Justin Hughes was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Justin Hughes made a fantastic save in the 8th minute, when Sacha Elliot sent off a good shot on target. Kris Preece's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Justin Hughes firmly grabbed it by the left post. Eric Brown took the ball and in the 11 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Larry Blair. Larry Blair dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-1. Tim Ricketts struck a weak shot in the 16th minute. Justin Hughes didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Rickmansworth. Rupert Beech hit a great freekick 17 minutes into the match. Justin Hughes stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Tim Ricketts's shot from short distance in the 18th minute. Kris Preece sent away a hard shot on goal in the 20th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Clive Willis sent away a hard shot on goal in the 25th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Justin Hughes made a fantastic save in the 31st minute, when Kris Preece sent off a good shot on target. After some careless play in the Harrogate defense, Kris Preece kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Justin Hughes. The Harrogate fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Justin Hughes should have stopped the shot. Justin Hughes was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Tim Ricketts showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 3-1 in the 38 minute of play. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 3-1.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Clive Willis was the one to do the kick off. The supporters of Rickmansworth booed when Harrogate was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 53 match minutes in a wonderful position. Francis Pryor didn't get a good kick on the ball. The audience held their breath when Matt Pointon in the 55th minute of the game managed to trick the opponents defenses and fired away a shot outside the goal on the Justin Hughes's left hand side. Justin Hughes came out of the goal in the 56th minute to try and stop a shot by Rickmansworth's Kris Preece. But to his dismay, Kris Preece quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 4-1. Justin Hughes stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Tim Ricketts's shot from short distance in the 62nd minute. Justin Hughes made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tim Ricketts in the 64th minute of play. Justin Hughes showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Kris Preece in the 70th minute of the match. Matt Pointon kicked well hit freekick during the 72nd minute of the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 76th minute, Clive Willis managed to get in a good position for a shot. Harrogate's supporters rose to their feet, but Clive Willis was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Larry Blair breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. If Clive Willis had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 78th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Kris Preece had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 80th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Tim Ricketts sent away a hard shot on goal in the 81st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Clive Willis received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 86th minute. Larry Blair tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Tim Ricketts had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 90th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Kris Preece scored 6-1 in the 94th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Justin Hughes, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Rickmansworth walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.