League

Ghencea Stadium
Spectators: 7511 (Terracing: 5634, Seating: 1727, VIP seats: 150) With a couple of smart ball manuevers Blair Niven in the 5th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Tommy Fitzsymon saved FK Steaua Bucharest from getting behind. Dylan Cheswick acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 9th minute, took the ball on the long shot from Denzil Dowrick. In the 11thth minute of the game Blair Niven who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but FK Steaua Bucharest's Tommy Fitzsymon was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. 16 minutes into the match, South Benfleet United's goal looked a bit too open when Ian Bonds came free, but Dylan Cheswick reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 21st minute, Jonathan Harban managed to get in a good position for a shot. South Benfleet United's supporters rose to their feet, but Jonathan Harban was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Tommy Fitzsymon breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. When Blair Niven came up free with the goalie in the 28th minute, the South Benfleet 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 Blair Niven couldn't finish the play. After 42 minutes, Blair Niven made it 2-1 with a short kick to the right side. FK Steaua Bucharest's Tommy Fitzsymon tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. Blair Niven sent away a hard shot on goal in the 47th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 2-1.

Ed Power struck a weak shot in the 53rd minute. Tommy Fitzsymon didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for South Benfleet United. Blair Niven had several of the FK Steaua Bucharest's defenders around him in the penalty area when he, after 55 minutes of play, received a pass and succeeded in some way to shoot a shot which went straight ahead into goal. This resulted in a 2-2 score and a disappointed Tommy Fitzsymon as he didn't even see the shot coming. Ed Power kicked well hit freekick during the 59th minute of the match. If Blair Niven had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 71st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 75 minutes into the match, Blair Niven had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Tommy Fitzsymon. FK Steaua Bucharest's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Blair Niven was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-3. Blair Niven fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 81st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Tommy Fitzsymon having to interfere. In the 85th minute Ian Bonds shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dylan Cheswick saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Blair Niven had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 86th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 88th match minute, FK Steaua Bucharest was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Deon Sharples to maneuver through the defense. Blair Niven sent away a hard shot on goal in the 90th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. When the match clock showed 93 minutes, the score became 2-4 when Blair Niven sped through FK Steaua Bucharest's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Tommy Fitzsymon. A collision led to FK Steaua Bucharest getting a freekick after 96 minutes play. Calvin Gibbons hit a great ball. The FK Steaua Bucharest fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. South Benfleet United were clearly better and deserved to take the win.