League

Birmingham Stadium
Spectators: 6723 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1723, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Beinn Blain got the match started through his kick off. Dave Pack fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 6th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Garry Beavan having to interfere. In the 8th minute the ball was on its way in behind South Woodham Ferrers's goalkeeper Craig Housham, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Garry Beavan showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ken Ferdinand in the 14th minute of the match. 20 minutes into the match, Birmingham's goal looked a bit too open when Austen Holdroyd came free, but Garry Beavan reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 26th minute, Dave Pack got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Garry Beavan made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Austen Holdroyd in the 29th minute of play. Jason Pollock's late challenge caught a South Woodham Ferrers's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Jason Pollock helped the player get up and apologised. Steven Webb recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 43rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 45th minute Dave Pack shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Garry Beavan saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Beinn Blain's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Craig Housham read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 48th minute of play. The score stood at 0-0 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Dave Pack stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After 53 played minutes, Birmingham's Leigh Renwick shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Craig Housham 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 Birmingham reached it. Steven Webb sent away a hard shot on goal in the 60th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Austen Holdroyd during the 61st minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Austen Holdroyd hit a great freekick 61 minutes into the match. Dave Pack struck a weak shot in the 64th minute. Garry Beavan didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for South Woodham Ferrers. In the 64th minute Dave Pack suffered a thigh injury and had to be helped off the field. Fraser Rain's late challenge caught a South Woodham Ferrers's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Fraser Rain helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, Birmingham's Fraser Rain got a free kick in the 66th minute. In the 68th match minute, South Woodham Ferrers was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alf Lobb to maneuver through the defense. 75 minutes into the match, Birmingham's goal looked a bit too open when Mike Rothery came free, but Garry Beavan reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. South Woodham Ferrers's Craig Housham played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Beinn Blain in the 79th minute of play. 84 minutes into the match, South Woodham Ferrers's Alf Lobb sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Garry Beavan narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After 86 played minutes Birmingham got a freekick which was hit by Brendon Mawson. The supporters of Birmingham booed when South Woodham Ferrers was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 87 match minutes in a wonderful position. Stuart Bates didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 90th minute Brendon Mawson shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Craig Housham saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When the referee blew the final whistle, you could see the dissatisfaction in the South Woodham Ferrers players' eyes. They were disappointed they hadn't taken more from the game.