League

Maldon Stadium
Spectators: 7500 (Terracing: 5625, Seating: 1725, VIP seats: 150) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Vinnie Cardwell kicked off to start the match. After 3 played minutes Maldon got a freekick which was hit by Ivan Pitt. Piers Ripley recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 6th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Piers Ripley received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 8th minute. Duncan Haigh tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Vinnie Cardwell sent away a hard shot on goal in the 10th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Piers Ripley had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 14th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 19th minute, Kristopher Heath hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. When Giles Reed fell near the penalty area in the 26th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Maldon's protests and gave Giles Reed a yellow card for diving instead. Piers Ripley fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 27th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Duncan Haigh having to interfere. After having played for 29 minutes, Danny Bland managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Maldon's supporters crossed their fingers, but Danny Bland was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After a rather tough play, Maldon's Ian Woodcock got a free kick in the 32nd minute. In the 35th minute, Alexander Fountain made a precise shot to the right of Duncan Haigh. Maldon's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-1. Duncan Haigh took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Piers Ripley, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 45th minute Piers Ripley shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Duncan Haigh saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Alexander Fountain fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 46th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Duncan Haigh having to interfere. A collision led to Maldon getting a freekick after 47 minutes play. Kris Granger hit a great ball. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Piers Ripley was the one to do the kick off. Alexander Fountain in the 54thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Duncan Haigh, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Alexander Fountain sent away a hard shot on goal in the 57th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. In the 59th minute Piers Ripley shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Duncan Haigh saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Duncan Haigh didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Alexander Fountain went, in the 61st minute, to the upper right corner, 0-2 was the resulting score. Alexander Fountain recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 65th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. A hard shot 73 in the game by Alexander Fountain from a close distance when the talented Duncan Haigh managed to make a qualified save. Maldon's players were relieved. A collision led to Binsted getting a freekick after 73 minutes play. Rod Crossley hit a great ball. The audience was convinced that Vinnie Cardwell's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Jake Burley was relentless in the 75th minute of the game. Alexander Fountain's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 84thth minute, Duncan Haigh skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Piers Ripley recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 86th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Duncan Haigh showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Piers Ripley, who was totally free with the ball in the 88th minute. The Maldon fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. Binsted were clearly better and deserved to take the win.