League

Hawkcombe Stadium
Spectators: 6730 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1730, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Tahar Ben Karel got the match started through his kick off. Slim Ben Bourguiba blasted a shot towards the goal in the 4th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Sabri Mestiri having to make a save. Hawkcombe's Tahar Boulaabi played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Michel Ben Arfa in the 8th minute of play. 10 minutes into the match, Hawkcombe's goal looked a bit too open when Michel Ben Arfa came free, but Tahar Boulaabi reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The supporters of Hawkcombe booed when Gedling was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 12 match minutes in a wonderful position. Hedhili Slim didn't get a good kick on the ball. Tahar Boulaabi showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Muhammad Rehouma in the 18th minute of the match. In the 22nd minute the ball was on its way in behind Hawkcombe's goalkeeper Tahar Boulaabi, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 25thth minute of the game Muhammad Rehouma who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Hawkcombe's Tahar Boulaabi was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. 0-1 became the score in the 27th minute when Michel Ben Arfa elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. Sabri Mestiri made an important save on a dangerous shot by Slim Ben Bourguiba in the 30th minute. In the 32nd minute, Noureddine Zitouni 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. In the 41st minute, Michel Ben Arfa ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Tahar Boulaabi was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-2. In the 47th match minute, Hawkcombe was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Hatem Essediri to maneuver through the defense. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

52 minutes into the game, Tahar Ben Karel was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Hawkcombe's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Gedling the free kick. In the 60th minute Tahar Ben Karel shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Sabri Mestiri saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Hawkcombe were furious when Hatem Essediri was red carded, 63 minutes into the game, but the referee dismissed their protests. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 62nd minute of the game. One of Hawkcombe:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Gedling:s goal. The goalkeeper, Tahar Boulaabi, was totally fooled by Gedling's Taoufik Sguir, who 65 minutes into the game made a penalty shot that went in on the goalkeeper's left side. Slim Ben Bourguiba might have been able to make a better finish in the 76th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Sabri Mestiri. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Slim Ben Bourguiba ran back to his position shaking his head. After 81 played minutes Gedling got a freekick which was hit by Hedhili Slim. In the 85th minute, Gedling's Michel Ben Arfa dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 0-4. In the 92nd minute the ball was on its way in behind Gedling's goalkeeper Sabri Mestiri, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 92 minutes into the game, Aymen Mourali was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Gedling's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Hawkcombe the free kick. Aymen Mourali kicked well hit freekick during the 92nd minute of the match. After 97 played minutes Hawkcombe got a freekick which was hit by Mohamed Dhiab. A hard shot by Taoufik Sguir from long distance, 98 minutes into the match, got Tahar Boulaabi's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. The corner led Gedling's Noureddine Jemmali to fire away a dangerous shot which Tahar Boulaabi despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Gedling's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.