League

Rochford Park
Spectators: 8433 (Terracing: 6326, Seating: 1939, VIP seats: 168) Rochford City's Ciarán Merchant 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. In the 4th minute, Tommy Nightingale made a precise shot to the right of Sammy Barnes. Rochford City's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-1. Ciarán Merchant sent away a hard shot on goal in the 8th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Sammy Barnes showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Austen Briant in the 11th minute of the match. Calum Atkins charged in rather forcefully in the 12th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Calum Atkins the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 14th play minutes Austen Briant shot 0-2, a short shot which went by Sammy Barnes and just under the crossbar into goal. 25 minutes into the match, Droylsden's goal looked a bit too open when Ciarán Merchant came free, but Sly Auckland reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A collision led to Droylsden getting a freekick after 26 minutes play. Carl Tate hit a great ball. Sly Auckland took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ciarán Merchant, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The supporters of Rochford City booed when Droylsden was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 31 match minutes in a wonderful position. Jimmy Swain didn't get a good kick on the ball. After 33 minutes, Tony Swinscoe mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Droylsden and the Rochford City players grew even worse after the yellow card. After a rather tough play, Droylsden's Tony Swinscoe got a free kick in the 33rd minute. In the 34th match minute Ted Butler Yeats ran free in the middle of the field and shot a long shot which scored behind a totally surprised Sly Auckland. 1-2. 48 minutes into the match, Rochford City's Ciarán Merchant sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Sly Auckland narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After the first half Droylsden were leading 1-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Droylsden's Sly Auckland played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jason Davis in the 52nd minute of play. Droylsden's Sly Auckland played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jason Davis in the 54th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in Rochford City's zone, Austen Briant stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Sammy Barnes came out of the goal and Austen Briant tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 58 minutes into the match, Rochford City's goalkeeper Sammy Barnes had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Tommy Nightingale. Ciarán Merchant received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 60th minute. Sly Auckland tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Tommy Nightingale received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 65th minute. Sammy Barnes tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 73rd minute the ball was on its way in behind Rochford City's goalkeeper Sammy Barnes, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After some fancy dribbling in the 76th minute, Austen Briant managed to get in a good position for a shot. Droylsden's supporters rose to their feet, but Austen Briant was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Sammy Barnes breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Tommy Nightingale fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 82nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Sammy Barnes having to interfere. Jason Davis sent away a hard shot on goal in the 87th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 90th minute Calum Atkins shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Sly Auckland saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. A collision led to Rochford City getting a freekick after 92 minutes play. Calum Atkins hit a great ball. Calum Atkins kicked well hit freekick during the 93rd minute of the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 97th minute, Ciarán Merchant managed to get in a good position for a shot. Rochford City's supporters rose to their feet, but Ciarán Merchant was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Sly Auckland breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick.