League

Tatsfield Park
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Romeo Donaghy got the match started through his kick off. In the 2nd match minute, Rochford City was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ciarán Merchant to maneuver through the defense. After a rather tough play, Rochford City's Ronnie Naylor got a free kick in the 3rd minute. After a rather tough play, Tatsfield FC's Reggie Alsop got a free kick in the 5th minute. After a defensive mix-up in Rochford City's zone, Marc Poynton stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Sammy Barnes came out of the goal and Marc Poynton tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. A hard shot 14 in the game by Marc Poynton from a close distance when the talented Sammy Barnes managed to make a qualified save. Rochford City's players were relieved. Marc Poynton could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 19th minute of the match, but Sammy Barnes made a huge save. The audience was convinced that Marc Poynton's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Sammy Barnes was relentless in the 20th minute of the game. 21 minutes into the game, Romeo Donaghy recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Sammy Barnes. Romeo Donaghy showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-0. The supporters of Tatsfield FC booed when Rochford City was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 26 match minutes in a wonderful position. George Kay didn't get a good kick on the ball. The audience cheered when Harry Wilkinson's long shot passed Sammy Barnes's right side. It was 2-0, 27 minutes into the match. Marc Poynton sent away a hard shot on goal in the 31st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Ciarán Merchant had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 34th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Romeo Donaghy in the 38th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Sammy Barnes saved Rochford City from getting behind. Sammy Barnes made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Romeo Donaghy in the 40th minute of play. Sammy Barnes came out of the goal in the 44th minute to try and stop a shot by Tatsfield FC's Marc Poynton. But to his dismay, Marc Poynton quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 3-0. After some careless play in the Rochford City defense, Marc Poynton kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Sammy Barnes. The Rochford City fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Sammy Barnes should have stopped the shot.

The wind increased when Ciarán Merchant made the kick off in the second half. When the match clock showed 57 minutes, the score became 5-0 when Marc Poynton sped through Rochford City's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Sammy Barnes. Romeo Donaghy sent away a hard shot on goal in the 61st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Romeo Donaghy recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 63rd 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 Marc Poynton in the 71st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Sammy Barnes saved Rochford City from getting behind. In the 72nd minute Romeo Donaghy shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Sammy Barnes saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Marc Poynton fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 74th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Sammy Barnes having to interfere. Carl Robertson showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ciarán Merchant, who was totally free with the ball in the 82nd minute. After a defensive mix-up in Rochford City's zone, Marc Poynton stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Sammy Barnes came out of the goal and Marc Poynton tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Romeo Donaghy sent away a hard shot on goal in the 89th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. In the 90th minute, Reggie Alsop hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Graeme Ellis hit a great freekick 97 minutes into the match. There was no doubt that Tatsfield FC were the better team. Tatsfield FC's players enjoyed the ovations of the crowd after the victory.