League

Halesowen Park
Spectators: 7496 (Terracing: 5623, Seating: 1724, VIP seats: 149) Halesowen FC's Wes Wills 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. In the 2nd minute, Al Potterton hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 4 minutes of play, Hackney FC's Dean Tabb made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Gav Blakewell was left in no man's land by his defense there! Dean Tabb 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. If Alec Hird had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 11th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Gav Blakewell made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alec Hird in the 14th minute of play. Michael Perryman hit a great freekick 14 minutes into the match. Hackney FC's Alec Hird got a good chance for a goal in the 16th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. A collision led to Halesowen FC getting a freekick after 16 minutes play. Mark Tonkin hit a great ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Wes Wills in the 21st minute of play forced Hackney FC's goalkeeper Les Ring to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 23rd minute, Dean Tabb managed to get in a good position for a shot. Hackney FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Dean Tabb was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Gav Blakewell breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Michael Perryman charged in rather forcefully in the 25th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Michael Perryman the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 25 played minutes Halesowen FC got a freekick which was hit by Michael Perryman. In the 26th minute of the match Sebastien Cooke shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Gav Blakewell showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. 27 minutes into the game, Mark Tonkin was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Halesowen FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Hackney FC the free kick. The supporters of Hackney FC booed when Halesowen FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 28 match minutes in a wonderful position. Mark Tonkin didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Michael Perryman was, once again, overly rough in his play he received his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. 30 minutes had been played. In the 31st minute, Michael Perryman hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 33rd minute, Dean Tabb left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Hackney FC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-2. Alec Hird sent away a hard shot on goal in the 36th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 38th minute, Mark Tonkin hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Halesowen FC's Gav Blakewell played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Al Potterton in the 40th minute of play. After having played for 42 minutes, Alec Hird managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Hackney FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Alec Hird was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alec Hird in the 45th minute of play forced Halesowen FC's goalkeeper Gav Blakewell to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-2.

The wind increased when Dean Tabb made the kick off in the second half. After 52 played minutes, Hackney FC's Sebastien Cooke shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Gav Blakewell came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Hackney FC reached it. Dean Tabb was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 60th minute. Hackney FC's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. Alec Hirds short, quick shot in the 62ndth minute got Gav Blakewell to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Wes Wills during the 62nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After a rather tough play, Halesowen FC's Wes Wills got a free kick in the 63rd minute. When Alec Hird, who was free, got the in front of the goal in the 64 minute he wasn't focused and tipped the ball just over the goal. The Gav Blakewell was delighted since the ball would have got in if it had gone under the crossbar. 68 minutes into the match, Halesowen FC's goal looked a bit too open when Dean Tabb came free, but Gav Blakewell reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Halesowen FC's Gav Blakewell played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Dean Tabb in the 70th minute of play. Gav Blakewell showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Dean Tabb, who was totally free with the ball in the 74th minute. Dean Tabb's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Gav Blakewell read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 75th minute of play. When Dean Tabb came up free with the goalie in the 78th minute, the Hackney FC 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 Dean Tabb couldn't finish the play. With a little luck, Halesowen FC's Gav Blakewell got control of the ball when Alec Hird tried to sneak it across the goal line. Gav Blakewell stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Dean Tabb's shot from short distance in the 85th minute. The supporters of Hackney FC booed when Halesowen FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 87 match minutes in a wonderful position. Wes Wills didn't get a good kick on the ball. Jonny Byfield sent away a hard shot on goal in the 90th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Alec Hird received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 97th minute. Gav Blakewell tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When the match was over Hackney FC could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Halesowen FC throughout the match.