League

Alton
Spectators: 7530 (Terracing: 5649, Seating: 1731, VIP seats: 150) Alton's Henry Simpson 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. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Graham Whitehead in the 3rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Brendon Prior saved Alton from getting behind. Graham Whitehead struck a weak shot in the 5th minute. Brendon Prior didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Petersfield City. In the 8th minute Henry Simpson shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ray Blackburn saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Lewis Mayall's late challenge caught a Alton's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Lewis Mayall helped the player get up and apologised. In the 13th minute, Graham Whitehead ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Brendon Prior was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. After 17 played minutes Alton got a freekick which was hit by Bart Bridgeman. When Toby Hough fell near the penalty area in the 18th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Alton's protests and gave Toby Hough a yellow card for diving instead. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Lewis Mayall in the 22nd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Brendon Prior saved Alton from getting behind. Brendon Prior made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lewis Mayall in the 24th minute of play. 29 minutes into the game, Petersfield City's Graham Whitehead nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Brendon Prior made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-2. Bryan Fordham's late challenge caught a Alton's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Bryan Fordham helped the player get up and apologised. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 32nd minute of the game. One of Petersfield City:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Alton:s goal. Ray Blackburn had in the 34thth minute some difficulties stopping Sidney Macken's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. Petersfield City's Lewis Mayall got a good chance for a goal in the 36th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 37th minute, Graham Whitehead left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Petersfield City fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-3. A collision led to Petersfield City getting a freekick after 40 minutes play. Stuart Kitchen hit a great ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 46th minute, Graham Whitehead managed to get in a good position for a shot. Petersfield City's supporters rose to their feet, but Graham Whitehead was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Brendon Prior breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lewis Mayall in the 48th minute of play forced Alton's goalkeeper Brendon Prior to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The Alton players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Petersfield City were winning 0-3.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Lewis Mayall was the one to do the kick off. During the 55th minute of the match Lewis Mayall completely mistimed his tackle and brought down his opponent. The referee gave Lewis Mayall a yellow card, his second in the match, which meant he could no longer take part in the game. Lewis Mayall hit a great freekick 56 minutes into the match. The supporters of Petersfield City booed when Alton was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 59 match minutes in a wonderful position. Henry Simpson didn't get a good kick on the ball. Graham Whitehead might have been able to make a better finish in the 64th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Brendon Prior. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Graham Whitehead ran back to his position shaking his head. Graham Whitehead fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 67th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Brendon Prior having to interfere. Colin Leather could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 69th minute of the match, but Brendon Prior made a huge save. Graham Whitehead recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 79th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 87 minutes into the match, Graham Whitehead notched a goal, 0-4, to the right of Alton's Brendon Prior. Brendon Prior was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it.