League

South Benfleet Park
Spectators: 6728 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1728, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Aaron Wardle started the match with the kick off. Trevor Philips took the ball and in the 5 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Stuart Seal. Stuart Seal dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. In the 7th match minute, Droylsden was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Paul Clarkson to maneuver through the defense. 11 minutes into the game, one of Droylsden:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. Trevor Philips fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 18th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Stuart Seal having to interfere. After 25 played minutes South Benfleet United got a freekick which was hit by Dylan Holloway. In the 26th minute of the match Jay Acton shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Stuart Seal showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. 27 minutes into the game, Calvin Barnfield recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Stew Edgson. Calvin Barnfield showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 2-1. If Aaron Wardle had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 32nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Stew Edgson showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Aaron Wardle, who was totally free with the ball in the 35th minute. Aaron Wardle fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 37th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Stew Edgson having to interfere. In the 38th minute, Cliff Beale left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The South Benfleet United fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 3-1. Stew Edgson acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 45th minute, took the ball on the long shot from Jeff Holdroyd. 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.

The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Paul Clarkson during the 52nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Stew Edgson made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cliff Beale in the 59th minute of play. Cliff Beale sent away a hard shot on goal in the 66th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Cliff Beale sent away a hard shot on goal in the 67th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Droylsden's Stew Edgson played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Aaron Wardle in the 73rd minute of play. 79 minutes into the match, South Benfleet United's Johnathon Truscott broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. In the 81stth minute of the game Aaron Wardle who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Droylsden's Stew Edgson was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. In the 82nd minute, Ben Kinsey hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 85th minute South Benfleet United were awarded a corner. Johnathon Truscott went to the cornerflag to take it. In the 89th minute the ball was on its way in behind South Benfleet United's goalkeeper Stuart Seal, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 91st minute Trevor Philips shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Stuart Seal saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Stuart Seal didn't succeed in stopping the ball in the 94th minute, which inside left pole to 4-2. 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 Benfleet United fully deserved thier win.