League

Rochford Park
Spectators: 8457 (Terracing: 6344, Seating: 1944, VIP seats: 169) 1967 Kingswood's George Hedges 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. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Ciarán Merchant in the 12th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Will Pitts saved 1967 Kingswood from getting behind. Ivan Barton hit a great freekick 13 minutes into the match. A hard shot by Ted Butler Yeats from long distance, 14 minutes into the match, got Will Pitts's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. Sammy Barnes showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from George Hedges, who was totally free with the ball in the 16th minute. A nice corner shot did that Ivan Barton got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Sammy Barnes quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Will Pitts made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ciarán Merchant in the 23rd minute of play. 28 minutes into the match, Rochford City's goal looked a bit too open when George Hedges came free, but Sammy Barnes reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. CJ Bush struck a weak shot in the 33rd minute. Sammy Barnes didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for 1967 Kingswood. George Kay hit a great freekick 34 minutes into the match. Sammy Barnes showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from CJ Bush in the 44th minute of the match. George Hedges fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 49th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Sammy Barnes having to interfere. The first half was very even, with the score at 0-0 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Ciarán Merchant to make the kick off. George Hedges fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 53rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Sammy Barnes having to interfere. When Jason Davis came up free with the goalie in the 55th minute, the Rochford City 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 Jason Davis couldn't finish the play. In the 58th minute, Rochford City's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after George Hedges fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. 60 minutes into the game, Gerry Seward was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Rochford City's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave 1967 Kingswood the free kick. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 60th minute of the game. One of Rochford City:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of 1967 Kingswood:s goal. 71 minutes into the match, Ciarán Merchant notched a goal, 1-1, to the right of 1967 Kingswood's Will Pitts. Will Pitts was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. If Ciarán Merchant had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 75th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Will Pitts took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ciarán Merchant, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 77th match minute, 1967 Kingswood was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Peter Workman to maneuver through the defense. Calum Atkins's late challenge caught a 1967 Kingswood's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Calum Atkins helped the player get up and apologised. After having played for 84 minutes, Jason Davis managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Rochford City's supporters crossed their fingers, but Jason Davis was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. CJ Bush recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 88th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. With a couple of smart ball manuevers George Hedges in the 96th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Sammy Barnes saved Rochford City from getting behind. CJ Bush could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 99th minute of the match, but Sammy Barnes made a huge save. 102 minutes into the game, Rochford City's Ciarán Merchant nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Will Pitts made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-1.