League

King George V Fields
Spectators: 7524 (Terracing: 5644, Seating: 1730, VIP seats: 150) Highcliffe Athletic FC's Billy Houlahan 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. Lymington United's Reg Bentham played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Billy Houlahan in the 3rd minute of play. When Billy Houlahan came up free with the goalie in the 5th minute, the Highcliffe Athletic FC 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 Billy Houlahan couldn't finish the play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Billy Houlahan in the 6th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Reg Bentham saved Lymington United from getting behind. 10 minutes into the game, Billy Houlahan cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-0. Reg Bentham was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. The supporters of Lymington United booed when Highcliffe Athletic FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 13 match minutes in a wonderful position. Eddie Medley didn't get a good kick on the ball. After some careless play in the Lymington United defense, Billy Houlahan kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Reg Bentham. The Lymington United fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Reg Bentham should have stopped the shot. Harry Dale hit a great freekick 21 minutes into the match. 24 minutes into the game, Billy Houlahan cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 3-0. Reg Bentham was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 31st minute Billy Houlahan shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Reg Bentham saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Zane Roebuck hit a great freekick 34 minutes into the match. In the 35th play minute Billy Houlahan came free and shot an unsuspected shot which went into goal from the right pole behind a surprised Reg Bentham. 4-0. Lucio Palos took the ball and in the 38 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Reg Bentham. Reg Bentham dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 5-0. After 46 minutes, Garry Dawes mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Highcliffe Athletic FC and the Lymington United players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of Lymington United booed when Highcliffe Athletic FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 46 match minutes in a wonderful position. Garry Dawes didn't get a good kick on the ball. 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 5-0.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Martin Impey to strike the kick off in the second half. The audience thought a goal was coming when Martin Impey got free with Sebastien Savage in the 52nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The supporters of Highcliffe Athletic FC booed when Lymington United was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 56 match minutes in a wonderful position. Syd Crossley didn't get a good kick on the ball. Lucio Palos sent away a hard shot on goal in the 62nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Reg Bentham made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Billy Houlahan in the 63rd minute of play. Billy Houlahan received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 65th minute. Reg Bentham tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 67th minute, Tim Peacock 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. Billy Houlahan recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 69th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Highcliffe Athletic FC's Tim Peacock got a good chance for a goal in the 70th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 73rd minute, Billy Houlahan made a precise shot to the right of Reg Bentham. Lymington United's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 7-0. Lucio Palos sent away a hard shot on goal in the 77th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 85 minutes into the match, Lucio Palos had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Reg Bentham. Lymington United's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Lucio Palos was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 9-0. Reg Bentham stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Billy Houlahan's shot from short distance in the 89th minute. After having played for 90 minutes, Vinnie Burkinshaw managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Highcliffe Athletic FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Vinnie Burkinshaw was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Reg Bentham stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Billy Houlahan's shot from short distance in the 97th minute. Highcliffe Athletic FC's supporters were delighted with their team's performance and swarmed onto the pitch at the end of the match to celebrate the victory with the players.