League

Nuneaton Park
Spectators: 6862 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1862, VIP seats: 0) Stuart Merchant made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tommy Topham in the 6th minute of play. With a little luck, Nuneaton's Stuart Merchant got control of the ball when Tommy Topham tried to sneak it across the goal line. With 11 minutes on the clock, Reuben Lilley commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. After 10 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Nuneaton! Keith Nicholl shot the penalty kick right outside the post. 14 minutes into the game, one of Nuneaton:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. Jason Golding who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 22ndth minute tested the skills of Stuart Merchant when he managed to save the team from getting behind. An unexpectedly hard shot by Philip Rawson in the 24th minute of play forced Nuneaton's goalkeeper Stuart Merchant to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Nuneaton's Stuart Merchant proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 32nd minute of the match, managed to save Nuneaton from getting a goal against them. After a rather tough play, Nuneaton's Bradley Friel got a free kick in the 35th minute. 39 minutes into the match, Nuneaton's Tommy Topham sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Stuart Merchant narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After some fancy dribbling in the 47th minute, Rodney Beckett managed to get in a good position for a shot. Nuneaton's supporters rose to their feet, but Rodney Beckett was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Jim Donaghy breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Rodney Beckett stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After having played for 54 minutes, Jason Golding managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Nuneaton's supporters crossed their fingers, but Jason Golding was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 60th minute Tommy Topham shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Stuart Merchant saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 61st match minute, Nuneaton was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Bradley Friel to maneuver through the defense. After some fancy dribbling in the 62nd minute, Jason Golding managed to get in a good position for a shot. Nuneaton's supporters rose to their feet, but Jason Golding was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Stuart Merchant breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After 63 minutes, Neil Beard mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Nuneaton and the Nuneaton players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to Nuneaton getting a freekick after 63 minutes play. Neil Beard hit a great ball. After 64 minutes of play, Nuneaton's Tommy Topham made it 2-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Stuart Merchant was left in no man's land by his defense there! If Jason Golding had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 72nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Jason Golding in the 77th minute of play forced Nuneaton's goalkeeper Stuart Merchant to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Philip Rawson kicked well hit freekick during the 80th minute of the match. 81 minutes into the game, Rodney Beckett cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-1. Jim Donaghy was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 87th minute the ball was on its way in behind Nuneaton's goalkeeper Jim Donaghy, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Nuneaton's Stuart Merchant played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jason Golding in the 89th minute of play. After a rather tough play, Nuneaton's Bradley Friel got a free kick in the 89th minute. Tommy Topham 's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Stuart Merchant read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 91st minute of play.