League

Leigh
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Dennis Baker made the kick off which started today's match. Basildon's Guy Dawson proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 3rd minute of the match, managed to save Basildon from getting a goal against them. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lennie Litchfield in the 4th minute of play forced Leigh's goalkeeper Trevor Featherstone to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Leigh were awarded a corner in the 8th minute after Basildon's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Dennis Baker took the corner. Trevor Featherstone showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jamal Dawson, who was totally free with the ball in the 10th minute. In the 11th minute, Lennie Litchfield hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The supporters of Leigh booed when Basildon was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 12 match minutes in a wonderful position. Jamal Dawson didn't get a good kick on the ball. Victor Oates sent away a hard shot on goal in the 13th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Dennis Baker might have been able to make a better finish in the 15th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Guy Dawson. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Dennis Baker ran back to his position shaking his head. Dennis Baker 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. Victor Oates might have been able to make a better finish in the 18th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Guy Dawson. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Victor Oates ran back to his position shaking his head. The audience thought a goal was coming when Ronnie Endean got free with Guy Dawson in the 19th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Basildon's defense didn't have a chance, in the 20th minute, when Barry Dobson scored to the left of an out of position Guy Dawson, making the score, 1-0. In the 24th minute, Lennie Litchfield hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After a defensive mix-up in Basildon's zone, Ronnie Endean stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Guy Dawson came out of the goal and Ronnie Endean tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. If Dennis Baker had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 27th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Dennis Baker in the 32ndth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Guy Dawson, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Leigh's Brad Deaconsfield got a good chance for a goal in the 34th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Guy Dawson made a fantastic save in the 39th minute, when Brad Deaconsfield sent off a good shot on target. 43 minutes into the game, Victor Oates recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Guy Dawson. Victor Oates showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 3-0. In the 47th play minute Dennis Baker came free and shot an unsuspected shot which went into goal from the right pole behind a surprised Guy Dawson. 4-0. 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 hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Samuel Duffield to strike the kick off in the second half. Dennis Baker received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 54th minute. Guy Dawson tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 59th minute Dennis Baker shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Guy Dawson saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a rather tough play, Basildon's Eddie Notley got a free kick in the 60th minute. If Barry Dobson had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 64th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ronnie Endean received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 65th minute. Guy Dawson tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Leigh's Andy Bailey got a good chance for a goal in the 67th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Guy Dawson stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Dennis Baker's shot from short distance in the 68th minute. If Dennis Baker had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 70th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Victor Oates had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 72nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. After some careless play in the Basildon defense, Ronnie Endean kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Guy Dawson. The Basildon fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Guy Dawson should have stopped the shot. Crispin Bagshaw scored 5-1 in the 76th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Trevor Featherstone, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Dennis Baker fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 80th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Guy Dawson having to interfere. After some fancy dribbling in the 83rd minute, Ronnie Endean managed to get in a good position for a shot. Leigh's supporters rose to their feet, but Ronnie Endean was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Guy Dawson breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After 85 minutes, Paul Mortimer mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Basildon and the Leigh players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 85 played minutes Basildon got a freekick which was hit by Paul Mortimer. If Victor Oates had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 86th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Andy Bailey had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 88th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ronnie Endean sent away a hard shot on goal in the 89th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The supporters of Basildon booed when Leigh was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 96 match minutes in a wonderful position. Barry Dobson didn't get a good kick on the ball. Leigh's supporters were delighted with their team's performance and swarmed onto the pitch at the end of the match to celebrate the victory with the players.