League

Hertford
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Rayleigh's Rudy Tan 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. The audience thought a goal was coming when Danish Hsin got free with Bryan Hian in the 3rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. When Alex Politiek fell near the penalty area in the 8th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Hertford's protests and gave Alex Politiek a yellow card for diving instead. After a rather tough play, Hertford's Alex Politiek got a free kick in the 8th minute. 11 minutes into the game, Felix Chan was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Rayleigh's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Hertford the free kick. Bineesh Lee received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 12th minute. Bryan Hian tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Bryan Hian made a fantastic save in the 14th minute, when Danish Hsin sent off a good shot on target. Hamir Yip charged in rather forcefully in the 25th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Hamir Yip the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 25th match minute, Rayleigh was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Hamir Yip to maneuver through the defense. 29 minutes had been played when some careless play by Rayleigh's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Hamir Swee was slow to take the kick. During this time Hertford's players had a chance to rest. The corner led Hertford's Hamir Swee to fire away a dangerous shot which Bryan Hian despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. After 30 played minutes Hertford got a freekick which was hit by Alex Politiek. After a defensive mix-up in Rayleigh's zone, Danish Hsin stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Bryan Hian came out of the goal and Danish Hsin tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 33 minutes into the game, Hertford's Danish Hsin nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Bryan Hian made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-1. The supporters of Hertford booed when Rayleigh was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 35 match minutes in a wonderful position. Hamir Yip didn't get a good kick on the ball. Bryan Hian made an important save on a dangerous shot by Danish Hsin in the 38th minute. Bineesh Lee could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 39th minute of the match, but Bryan Hian made a huge save.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Danish Hsin to make the kick off. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Samuel Ee during the 52nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Samuel Ee hit a great freekick 52 minutes into the match. 53 minutes into the match, Rayleigh's Noh Dhanabalan broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. John Hui took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Rudy Tan, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Rudy Tan 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. Danish Hsin received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 65th minute. Bryan Hian tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A collision led to Rayleigh getting a freekick after 68 minutes play. Noh Dhanabalan hit a great ball. In the 71st minute, Rudy Tan made a precise shot to the right of John Hui. Hertford's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-3. If Bineesh Lee had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 78th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 82 minutes into the match, Hertford's goalkeeper John Hui had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Mark Yip. John Hui made a fantastic save in the 84th minute, when Zafran Hongyi sent off a good shot on target. Hertford's John Hui played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Zafran Hongyi in the 87th minute of play. In the 91st minute, Danish Hsin got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Danish Hsin fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 95th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Bryan Hian having to interfere. Although Hertford had been in control for most of the match, Rayleigh still came away with the win.