League

Hitchin Stadium
Spectators: 6730 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1730, VIP seats: 0) Camron Elliott started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. If Camron Elliott had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 7th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Camron Elliott received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 12th minute. Russ Strong tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 13th match minute, Hitchin was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Nick Wood to maneuver through the defense. An unexpectedly hard shot by Dale Lane in the 26th minute of play forced Maldon City's goalkeeper Ben Craven to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The audience was convinced that Camron Elliott's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Russ Strong was relentless in the 28th minute of the game. Rory Hicks struck a weak shot in the 34th minute. Russ Strong didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Maldon City. A collision led to Maldon City getting a freekick after 37 minutes play. Franz Jones hit a great ball. Russ Strong made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Camron Elliott in the 39th minute of play. After some careless play in the Hitchin defense, Franz Jones kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Russ Strong. The Hitchin fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Russ Strong should have stopped the shot. Hitchin's Russ Strong played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Camron Elliott in the 46th minute of play. Disappointed in the 0-2 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

In the 51st minute, Gez Pickard hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After a rather tough play, Hitchin's Jez Addison got a free kick in the 53rd minute. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Jez Addison during the 55th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Ben Craven came out of the goal in the 57th minute to try and stop a shot by Hitchin's Ash Picker. But to his dismay, Ash Picker quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-2. Maldon City's Camron Elliott got a good chance for a goal in the 61st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After a defensive mix-up in Hitchin's zone, Rory Hicks stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Russ Strong came out of the goal and Rory Hicks tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 68th minute, Maldon City's Camron Elliott ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Russ Strong. Russ Strong yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-3. If Camron Elliott had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 72nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ruben Welch made a great header on Maldon City's corner, it was just that Hitchin's Russ Strong managed to reach the ball for a save. After a defensive mix-up in Hitchin's zone, Camron Elliott stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Russ Strong came out of the goal and Camron Elliott tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After 82 minutes, Jim Stockton mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Hitchin and the Maldon City players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 82 played minutes Hitchin got a freekick which was hit by Jim Stockton. Russ Strong took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Camron Elliott, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 92nd play minute Rory Hicks came free and shot an unsuspected shot which went into goal from the right pole behind a surprised Russ Strong. 1-4. Camron Elliott fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 96th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Russ Strong having to interfere. Maldon City'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.