League

Rawtenstall
Spectators: 6722 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1722, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Adel Beya got the match started through his kick off. Radhi Bey showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Adel Beya in the 4th minute of the match. In the 6th match minute, Rawtenstall FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Karim Jaber to maneuver through the defense. If Youssef Ben Melliti had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 8th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The Maidenhead fans' excitement grew in the 11th match minute when Maidenhead's Youssef Ben Melliti looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 0-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. After some careless play in the Maidenhead defense, Khaled Bouazizi kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Radhi Bey. The Maidenhead fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Radhi Bey should have stopped the shot. Adel Beya received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 20th minute. Radhi Bey tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Youssef Ben Melliti had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 22nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Marouane Baccouche made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nejib Nafti in the 24th minute of play. When Maidenhead's Youssef Ben Melliti in the 26th minute got a chance for a shot 26th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Rawtenstall FC's goalie prevented a goal. Youssef Ben Melliti struck a weak shot in the 34th minute. Marouane Baccouche didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Maidenhead. After a defensive mix-up in Rawtenstall FC's zone, Nejib Nafti stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Marouane Baccouche came out of the goal and Nejib Nafti tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. A collision led to Maidenhead getting a freekick after 39 minutes play. Mohamed Salah al-Husain hit a great ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Khaled Bouazizi got free with Radhi Bey in the 41st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Adel Beya fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 46th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Radhi Bey having to interfere. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Nejib Nafti made a kick off. Marouane Baccouche made an important save on a dangerous shot by Youssef Ben Melliti in the 58th minute. In the 60th minute of the match Maidenhead got a corner. Rawtenstall FC's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Mustafa Ben Clayton ran over to the corner to take the kick. Marouane Baccouche acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 64th minute, took the ball on the long shot from Ali Slimane. 66 minutes into the match, Rawtenstall FC's goal looked a bit too open when Nejib Nafti came free, but Marouane Baccouche reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Khaled Bouazizi struck a weak shot in the 68th minute. Radhi Bey didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Rawtenstall FC. When Youssef Ben Melliti came up free with the goalie in the 71st minute, the Maidenhead 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 Youssef Ben Melliti couldn't finish the play. 1-2 became the score in the 73rd minute when Youssef Ben Melliti elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. Marouane Baccouche took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nejib Nafti, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nejib Nafti in the 86th minute of play forced Rawtenstall FC's goalkeeper Marouane Baccouche to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Youssef Ben Melliti 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. After 90 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Maidenhead! Radhi Bey went to the wrong direction when Zine Zouiten was taking care of the penalty kick which however missed the goal. Khaled Bouazizi blasted a shot towards the goal in the 94th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Radhi Bey having to make a save. Nejib Nafti sent away a hard shot on goal in the 98th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The Maidenhead supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Maidenhead would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.