League

East Grinstead
Spectators: 6746 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1746, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Addas Balaid started the match with the kick off. The Watford fans' excitement grew in the 3rd match minute when Watford's Imad Moumen 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. If Sabri El Hadi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 12th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Addas Balaid 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. 18 minutes into the match, East Grinstead's Ahmed Kafi sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Redouane Benyagoub narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Jawed Metaref took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Hamza Horr, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Addas Balaid in the 24th minute of play forced Watford's goalkeeper Redouane Benyagoub to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 29 played minutes East Grinstead got a freekick which was hit by Kateb Saïd. An unexpectedly hard shot by Hamza Horr in the 33rd minute of play forced East Grinstead's goalkeeper Jawed Metaref to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. East Grinstead's Jawed Metaref played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Sabri El Hadi in the 37th minute of play. 39 minutes into the game, Watford's Hamza Horr nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Jawed Metaref made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-2. In the 44th match minute, Watford was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jussef Saïb to maneuver through the defense. Addas Balaid recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 48th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-2.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Sabri El Hadi stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Hamza Horr in the 60thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Jawed Metaref, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. In the 64th match minute, Watford was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Hamza Horr to maneuver through the defense. Addas Balaid recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 68th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. If Ahmed Kafi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 72nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 76th minute Addas Balaid shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Redouane Benyagoub saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ahmed Kafi hit a great freekick 77 minutes into the match. If Ahmed Kafi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 79th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Redouane Benyagoub made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Addas Balaid in the 82nd minute of play. The crowd rose to their feet as Watford's Sabri El Hadi slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Jawed Metaref. That made the score 0-3 after 85 minutes of play. The audience was convinced that Ahmed Kafi's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Redouane Benyagoub was relentless in the 89th minute of the game. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Watford eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.