League

Baldock
Spectators: 6737 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1737, VIP seats: 0) Fordham's Abdelbassir Fetani started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Ilian Benali showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Khalida Kerrache, who was totally free with the ball in the 6th minute. Farouk Benzine could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 8th minute of the match, but Nacer Benhabiles made a huge save. Khalida Kerrache 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. Rayan Bensaïd was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 17th played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Naïm Djebar during the 21st minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 22nd match minute, Baldock was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Naïm Djebar to maneuver through the defense. After 29 minutes of play, Baldock's Farouk Benzine made it 1-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Nacer Benhabiles was left in no man's land by his defense there! Redha Khalef sent away a hard shot on goal in the 33rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Redha Khalef had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 37th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ilian Benali made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jawed Fergani in the 42nd minute of play. When Naïm Djebar was, once again, overly rough in his play he received his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. 44 minutes had been played. A collision led to Baldock getting a freekick after 45 minutes play. Naïm Djebar hit a great ball. 46 minutes into the match, Baldock's goal looked a bit too open when Abdelbassir Fetani came free, but Ilian Benali reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Farouk Benzine made a kick off. Mustapha Belhadj hit a great freekick 65 minutes into the match. Khalida Kerrache charged in rather forcefully in the 70th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Khalida Kerrache the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Khalida Kerrache hit a great freekick 70 minutes into the match. Khalida Kerrache fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 74th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ilian Benali having to interfere. Rayan Bensaïd, 79 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. Abdelbassir Fetani might have been able to make a better finish in the 83rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Ilian Benali. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Abdelbassir Fetani ran back to his position shaking his head. The supporters of Fordham booed when Baldock was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 90 match minutes in a wonderful position. Farouk Boukhari didn't get a good kick on the ball. Khalida Kerrache fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 94th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ilian Benali having to interfere. After a rather tough play, Baldock's Menad Assous got a free kick in the 96th minute. Rayan Bensaïd, 98 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. Fordham were clearly unhappy with the draw, as they felt they had done enough to earn themselves a victory.