League

Hale Park
Spectators: 6736 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1736, VIP seats: 0) If Amar Fahima had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 6th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Hale's Mahmoud Benhamou got a good chance for a goal in the 11th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Abdallah Zaoui showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Zidan Mérah-Benida in the 13th minute of the match. Yazid Mansouri might have been able to make a better finish in the 14th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Abdallah Zaoui. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Yazid Mansouri ran back to his position shaking his head. After 15 played minutes Bacup got a freekick which was hit by Amar Fahima. Bellemou Messai kicked well hit freekick during the 17th minute of the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 18th minute, Zidan Mérah-Benida managed to get in a good position for a shot. Hale's supporters rose to their feet, but Zidan Mérah-Benida was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Abdallah Zaoui breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. When Amar Fahima fell near the penalty area in the 23rd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Bacup's protests and gave Amar Fahima a yellow card for diving instead. After 23 played minutes Bacup got a freekick which was hit by Amar Fahima. After a rather tough play, Bacup's Amar Fahima got a free kick in the 26th minute. Abdallah Zaoui made an important save on a dangerous shot by Mahmoud Benhamou in the 30th minute. Bellemou Messai kicked well hit freekick during the 30th minute of the match. In the 32nd minute Zidan Mérah-Benida shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Abdallah Zaoui saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 33rd minute of the match Mustapha Zeghdoud sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Abdallah Zaoui skillfully saved the ball. Mahmoud Benhamou sent away a hard shot on goal in the 35th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Zidan Mérah-Benida received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 38th minute. Abdallah Zaoui tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The wind increased when Hocine Zeghni made the kick off in the second half. In the 56thth minute of the game Zidan Mérah-Benida who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Bacup's Abdallah Zaoui was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. With a little luck, Hale's Islam Arouani got control of the ball when Yazid Messaoudi tried to sneak it across the goal line. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Yazid Mansouri during the 58th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. 59 minutes into the match, Hale's goalkeeper Islam Arouani had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Yazid Messaoudi. If Mahmoud Benhamou had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 67th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Zidan Mérah-Benida fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 70th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Abdallah Zaoui having to interfere. 75 minutes into the game, Zidan Mérah-Benida was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Hale's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Bacup the free kick. In the 75th minute, Zidan Mérah-Benida hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Abdallah Zaoui showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Zidan Mérah-Benida in the 83rd minute of the match. Zidan Mérah-Benida scored 1-0 in the 86th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Abdallah Zaoui, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. The supporters of Hale booed when Bacup was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 92 match minutes in a wonderful position. Yazid Messaoudi didn't get a good kick on the ball. Bacup's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.