League

Congleton Stadium
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Sittingbourne AFC's Dimitar Kuchev started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. 5 minutes into the game, one of Sittingbourne AFC:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. The goalkeeper, Nathan Thompson, was totally fooled by Congleton's Stew Skinner, who 6 minutes into the game made a penalty shot that went in on the goalkeeper's left side. Nathan Thompson didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Francis Bailey went, in the 16th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-0 was the resulting score. Stew Skinner hit a great freekick 20 minutes into the match. In the 24th minute Robbie Holt shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nathan Thompson saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The audience was convinced that Dimitar Kuchev's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Rueben Blake was relentless in the 26th minute of the game. A collision led to Sittingbourne AFC getting a freekick after 29 minutes play. Ash Byfield hit a great ball. When Congleton's Jeff Perkins in the 30th minute got a chance for a shot 30th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Sittingbourne AFC's goalie prevented a goal. A collision led to Congleton getting a freekick after 31 minutes play. Robbie Holt hit a great ball. After having played for 33 minutes, Dimitar Kuchev managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Sittingbourne AFC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Dimitar Kuchev was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 37 minutes into the match, Congleton's Francis Bailey sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Nathan Thompson narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Sittingbourne AFC's Nathan Thompson played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jeff Perkins in the 38th minute of play. In the 41st minute Dimitar Kuchev shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rueben Blake saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-0 at half-time.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Jeff Perkins stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Nathan Thompson made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Francis Bailey in the 52nd minute of play. After 53 played minutes Congleton got a freekick which was hit by Philip Wise. Congleton's Rueben Blake played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Les Slabber in the 54th minute of play. Dimitar Kuchev had several of the Congleton's defenders around him in the penalty area when he, after 58 minutes of play, received a pass and succeeded in some way to shoot a shot which went straight ahead into goal. This resulted in a 2-1 score and a disappointed Rueben Blake as he didn't even see the shot coming. Sittingbourne AFC's Nathan Thompson played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Francis Bailey in the 62nd minute of play. After 64 played minutes Sittingbourne AFC got a freekick which was hit by Den Cahill. When Stew Skinner came up free with the goalie in the 66th minute, the Congleton fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Stew Skinner couldn't finish the play. 67 minutes into the game, Conan Elam was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Sittingbourne AFC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Congleton the free kick. Nathan Thompson showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Francis Bailey, who was totally free with the ball in the 69th minute. Francis Bailey recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 77th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Nathan Thompson stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Francis Bailey's shot from short distance in the 82nd minute. 83 minutes into the game, Adrian Davis was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Congleton's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Sittingbourne AFC the free kick. After 83 played minutes Congleton got a freekick which was hit by Adrian Davis. Dimitar Kuchev recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 85th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 86 minutes into the match, Sittingbourne AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Francis Bailey came free, but Nathan Thompson reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 87 minutes into the match, Francis Bailey had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Nathan Thompson. Sittingbourne AFC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Francis Bailey was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 3-1. An unexpectedly hard shot by Jeff Perkins in the 91st minute of play forced Sittingbourne AFC's goalkeeper Nathan Thompson to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a rather tough play, Sittingbourne AFC's Ash Byfield got a free kick in the 92nd minute. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Dimitar Kuchev in the 94th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Rueben Blake prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Sittingbourne AFC's supporters were dissatisfied at the end of the match because Congleton had won, even though Sittingbourne AFC had held more of the ball.