League

Stalybridge Stadium
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Ian Haines took the kick off in the first half of the match. Stalybridge United's Deon Porter got a good chance for a goal in the 4th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Robin Laycock made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Sidney Freeman in the 6th minute of play. Robin Laycock came out of the goal in the 7th minute to try and stop a shot by Stalybridge United's Gus Westerby. But to his dismay, Gus Westerby quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-0. Callum Black received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 11th minute. Robin Laycock tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Ashley Brooks had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 13th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Deon Porter had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 14th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Herne Bay FC's Robin Laycock played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Sidney Freeman in the 18th minute of play. In the 21st minute, Stalybridge United's Sidney Freeman dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 2-0. In the 25th minute Ian Haines shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Damion Lonsdale saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 27th match minute, Herne Bay FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Sam Askew to maneuver through the defense. 29 minutes into the match, Herne Bay FC's goal looked a bit too open when Sidney Freeman came free, but Robin Laycock reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Herne Bay FC's zone, Gus Westerby stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Robin Laycock came out of the goal and Gus Westerby tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Robin Laycock was a little too slow when Sidney Freeman got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 34th minute. The score was now 3-0. Deon Porter sent away a hard shot on goal in the 44th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Gus Westerby could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 46th minute of the match, but Robin Laycock made a huge save.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Gus Westerby stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gus Westerby in the 53rd minute of play forced Herne Bay FC's goalkeeper Robin Laycock to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When Gus Westerby came up free with the goalie in the 54th minute, the Stalybridge United 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 Gus Westerby couldn't finish the play. 56 minutes into the match, Herne Bay FC's goal looked a bit too open when Rich Gunn came free, but Robin Laycock reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Gus Westerby struck a weak shot in the 57th minute. Robin Laycock didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Stalybridge United. An unexpectedly hard shot by Sidney Freeman in the 63rd minute of play forced Herne Bay FC's goalkeeper Robin Laycock to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 64th minute, Deon Porter managed to get in a good position for a shot. Stalybridge United's supporters rose to their feet, but Deon Porter was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Robin Laycock breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 65th minute, Gus Westerby 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. Gus Westerby's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Robin Laycock read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 67th minute of play. Robin Laycock showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gus Westerby in the 73rd minute of the match. Callum Black sent away a hard shot on goal in the 74th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gus Westerby in the 77th minute of play forced Herne Bay FC's goalkeeper Robin Laycock to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Robin Laycock didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Deon Porter went, in the 78th minute, to the upper right corner, 4-0 was the resulting score. Callum Black recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 83rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Nick Barr during the 85th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. A collision led to Herne Bay FC getting a freekick after 85 minutes play. Nick Barr hit a great ball. Stalybridge United's Gus Westerby couldn't find anyone to pass the ball to, so he shot a long shot towards the goal in the 86th minute. The shot went wide which resulted in a goal kick for Herne Bay FC. In the 88th minute the ball was on its way in behind Herne Bay FC's goalkeeper Robin Laycock, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Deon Porter sent away a hard shot on goal in the 92nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Callum Black struck a weak shot in the 94th minute. Robin Laycock didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Stalybridge United. After having played for 96 minutes, Gus Westerby managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Stalybridge United's supporters crossed their fingers, but Gus Westerby was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. It was no surprise that this one had ended in a win for the home team. Stalybridge United had played much better football throughout.