League

Horwich
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Jerry Hutchings took the kick off in the first half of the match. After 8 minutes, Jake Townson mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Horwich United and the Heywood players grew even worse after the yellow card. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 7th minute of the game. One of Horwich United:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Heywood:s goal. The referee gave Heywood a penalty, 9 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Johnny Gower, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Horwich United's Larry Wybrow. 0-1. Leigh McCartney came free with the goalkeeper in the 13th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Francis Hassell could save by the left post. With his leg Francis Hassell managed to avoid a goal in the 16thth minute, when Horwich United's Leigh McCartney fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Leigh McCartney might have been able to make a better finish in the 20th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Francis Hassell. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Leigh McCartney ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 22nd minute, Leigh McCartney left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Horwich United fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. Francis Hassell showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gareth Glanvill in the 27th minute of the match. Horwich United's Leigh McCartney got a good chance for a goal in the 28th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. If Leigh McCartney had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 32nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Francis Hassell didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Leigh McCartney went, in the 34th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-1 was the resulting score. During the 37th minute of the match Jake Townson completely mistimed his tackle and brought down his opponent. The referee gave Jake Townson a yellow card, his second in the match, which meant he could no longer take part in the game. Leigh McCartney received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 40th minute. Francis Hassell tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Horwich United's Shaun Thompson got a good chance for a goal in the 42nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Leigh McCartney received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 45th minute. Francis Hassell tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 2-1 at half-time.

53 minutes into the match, Peter Bull had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Larry Wybrow. Horwich United's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Peter Bull was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-2. Leigh McCartney's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Francis Hassell read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 58th minute of play. Leigh McCartney fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 60th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Francis Hassell having to interfere. Leigh McCartney received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 62nd minute. Francis Hassell tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Archie Davey came up free with the goalie in the 64th minute, the Horwich United 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 Archie Davey couldn't finish the play. When Jon Couch came up free with the goalie in the 67th minute, the Horwich United 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 Jon Couch couldn't finish the play. Heywood's Francis Hassell played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jon Couch in the 71st minute of play. Leigh McCartney received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 74th minute. Francis Hassell tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Leigh McCartney received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 78th minute. Francis Hassell tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Francis Hassell showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Archie Davey, who was totally free with the ball in the 80th minute. Francis Hassell took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Jon Couch, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Heywood's Francis Hassell played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Leigh McCartney in the 84th minute of play. If Tom Trotter had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 85th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Leigh McCartney received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 87th minute. Francis Hassell tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Peter Bull sent away a hard shot on goal in the 91st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 93rd minute the ball was on its way in behind Horwich United's goalkeeper Larry Wybrow, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Leigh McCartney recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 96th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Heywood succeeded in salvaging a draw, even though Horwich United had controlled the match.