League

Sittingbourne Park
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Devon Clapham started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. In the 2nd match minute, Birmingham city was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Devon Clapham to maneuver through the defense. Wes Pallister struck a weak shot in the 4th minute. Eddy Dalton didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Sittingbourne. In the 7th minute Devon Clapham shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Vinnie Bell saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Devon Clapham sent away a hard shot on goal in the 8th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 13thth minute of the game Devon Clapham who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Sittingbourne's Vinnie Bell was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. The supporters of Sittingbourne booed when Birmingham city was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 17 match minutes in a wonderful position. Thomas Oatway didn't get a good kick on the ball. Leigh Mannell was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 18th played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. Eddy Dalton showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gareth Ricketts, who was totally free with the ball in the 22nd minute. Ozzy Mallaby kicked well hit freekick during the 23rd minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Devon Clapham in the 25th minute of play forced Sittingbourne's goalkeeper Vinnie Bell to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When Wes Pallister came up free with the goalie in the 28th minute, the Sittingbourne fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Wes Pallister couldn't finish the play. Wes Pallister fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 30th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Eddy Dalton having to interfere. Austin Cooke fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 31st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Vinnie Bell having to interfere. When the match had gone on for 33 minutes, Gareth Ricketts took a quick shot and it went in 1-0 without a chance for Eddy Dalton to make any attempt to save it. Birmingham city's Austin Cooke got a good chance for a goal in the 38th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Austin Cooke in the 40th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Vinnie Bell saved Sittingbourne from getting behind. Birmingham city's Devon Clapham got a good chance for a goal in the 43rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Norman Everard charged in rather forcefully in the 46th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Norman Everard the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 46th match minute, Sittingbourne was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Norman Everard to maneuver through the defense. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Gareth Ricketts stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. It seemed to be an obvious goal in the 55th minute, but Vinnie Bell got his fingers on the ball or the save, leaving Sittingbourne hanging dry this time. Vinnie Bell made a fantastic save in the 60th minute, when Austin Cooke sent off a good shot on target. After 61 minutes, Ian Fordham mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Sittingbourne and the Birmingham city players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 61 played minutes Sittingbourne got a freekick which was hit by Ian Fordham. Sittingbourne's Vinnie Bell played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Devon Clapham in the 64th minute of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Austin Cooke got free with Vinnie Bell in the 67th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Sittingbourne's Ian Fordham got his second yellow card of the match in the 68th minute. The referee ordered Ian Fordham off the ground. In the 68th minute, Ian Fordham hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Austin Cooke recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 69th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Thanks to some nice moves Austin Cooke could shoot a difficult shot in the 71st minute, which Vinnie Bell however easily saved by the left post. If Austin Cooke had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 73rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 82nd minute Wes Pallister shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Eddy Dalton saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Devon Clapham had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 85th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a rather tough play, Sittingbourne's Norman Everard got a free kick in the 89th minute. In the 92nd minute the ball was on its way in behind Sittingbourne's goalkeeper Vinnie Bell, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. When Austin Cooke came up free with the goalie in the 95th minute, the Birmingham city fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Austin Cooke couldn't finish the play. Vinnie Bell made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Devon Clapham in the 96th minute of play. Birmingham city's supporters were dissatisfied at the end of the match because Sittingbourne had won, even though Birmingham city had held more of the ball.