League

Crookes Park
Spectators: 6726 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1726, VIP seats: 0) Sandbach United's Mohamed Salah Belkahia 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. Tarek Jemmali's late challenge caught a Crookes's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Tarek Jemmali helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to Sandbach United getting a freekick after 7 minutes play. Tarek Jemmali hit a great ball. Bechir Arfa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Riadh Aleya in the 11th minute of play. Bechir Arfa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Sofiane Sellimi in the 12th minute of the match. In the 13th match minute, Crookes was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Abdelkarim Baccouche to maneuver through the defense. Mohamed Salah Belkahia recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 16th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 19th minute, Abdelkarim Baccouche hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Sofiane Sellimi in the 23rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Bechir Arfa saved Crookes from getting behind. Crookes's Bechir Arfa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mohamed Salah Belkahia in the 25th minute of play. Sandbach United's Sofiane Sellimi got a good chance for a goal in the 28th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Sofiane Sellimi received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 37th minute. Bechir Arfa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Tarek Jemmali hit a great freekick 41 minutes into the match. Crookes's Abdelkarim Baccouche managed to work through Sandbach United's defense and was going for an easy goal, but he hit the shot with his toe and the ball flew outside the goal. Abdelkarim Baccouche dejectedly held out his arms as if to ask why the ball hadn't gone in.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Abdelkarim Baccouche to make the kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Abdelkarim Baccouche in the 53rd minute of play forced Sandbach United's goalkeeper Heithem Neifar to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Sandbach United's zone, Abdallah Namouchi stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Heithem Neifar came out of the goal and Abdallah Namouchi tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Sandbach United were furious when Ali Bouazizi was red carded, 59 minutes into the game, but the referee dismissed their protests. 58 minutes into the game, one of Sandbach United:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. Abdallah Namouchi 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. 64 minutes into the match, Sandbach United's goal looked a bit too open when Abdelkarim Baccouche came free, but Heithem Neifar reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Abdallah Namouchi received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 65th minute. Heithem Neifar tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After some careless play in the Sandbach United defense, Abdelkarim Baccouche kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Heithem Neifar. The Sandbach United fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Heithem Neifar should have stopped the shot. Heithem Neifar took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Abdallah Namouchi, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The supporters of Crookes booed when Sandbach United was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 76 match minutes in a wonderful position. Mohamed Salah Belkahia didn't get a good kick on the ball. Abdallah Namouchi received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 80th minute. Heithem Neifar tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Abdallah Namouchi in the 88th minute of play forced Sandbach United's goalkeeper Heithem Neifar to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Crookes's Abdelkarim Baccouche got a good chance for a goal in the 93rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Neither set of supporters seemed pleased with the draw, but both teams had played equally well today.