League

Helsby
Spectators: 7379 (Terracing: 5500, Seating: 1729, VIP seats: 150) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Piers Postolan kicked off to start the match. 4 minutes into the match, Helsby United's goal looked a bit too open when Kristian Brooks came free, but Louis Roche reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Francis Towler's late challenge caught a Waterlooville AFC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Francis Towler helped the player get up and apologised. Louis Roche made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Marty Proctor in the 8th minute of play. 12 minutes into the game, Piers Postolan was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Helsby United's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Waterlooville AFC the free kick. Louis Roche showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Marty Proctor, who was totally free with the ball in the 18th minute. After a rather tough play, Helsby United's Jo Platt got a free kick in the 21st minute. Helsby United's Louis Roche played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Marty Proctor in the 24th minute of play. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 26th minute of the game. One of Waterlooville AFC:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Helsby United:s goal. When Francis Towler was, once again, overly rough in his play he received his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. 32 minutes had been played. Francis Towler kicked well hit freekick during the 32nd minute of the match. Orson Page took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 33rd minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Louis Roche. Helsby United's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. 35 minutes into the game, Waterlooville AFC's Tony Forrest nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Louis Roche made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-1. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 38th minute of the game. One of Helsby United:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Waterlooville AFC:s goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Tony Forrest in the 45th minute of play forced Helsby United's goalkeeper Louis Roche to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 47 minutes into the match, Helsby United's goal looked a bit too open when Tony Forrest came free, but Louis Roche reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Disappointed in the 1-2 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The audience held their breath when Rod Bond in the 54th minute of the game managed to trick the opponents defenses and fired away a shot outside the goal on the Fred Gilchrist's left hand side. If Marc Rayner had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 57th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 61 played minutes Helsby United got a freekick which was hit by Jo Platt. A long shot from Orson Page in the 63rd minute of play was well struck, but Louis Roche made a really good save at the right post. Marc Rayner sent away a hard shot on goal in the 69th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Marc Rayner had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 76th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Marc Rayner fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 77th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Fred Gilchrist having to interfere. Marc Rayner recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 80th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Marc Rayner might have been able to make a better finish in the 85th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Fred Gilchrist. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Marc Rayner ran back to his position shaking his head. Fred Gilchrist didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Piers Postolan went, in the 95th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-3 was the resulting score.