League

Launceston
Spectators: 6730 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1730, VIP seats: 0) Launceston AFC's Ali Benzekri 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. 4 minutes into the match, Hawkcombe's Fethi Abdallah broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Slim Ben Bourguiba in the 7th minute of play forced Launceston AFC's goalkeeper Haroune Ghodhbane to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Ali Benzekri was extremely unlucky when he, in the 9th minute, took a shot that hit the right post and went out. Ali Benzekri might have been able to make a better finish in the 12th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Tahar Boulaabi. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Ali Benzekri ran back to his position shaking his head. After 14 played minutes, Launceston AFC's Mustafa Ben Massaoud shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Tahar Boulaabi 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 Launceston AFC reached it. If Mohieddine Ghannouchi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 15th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 18 minutes into the match, Hawkcombe's goalkeeper Tahar Boulaabi had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Mohieddine Ghannouchi. 21 minutes into the match, Hawkcombe's goal looked a bit too open when Ali Benzekri came free, but Tahar Boulaabi reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 25th minute of the match Hawkcombe got a corner. Launceston AFC's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Fethi Abdallah ran over to the corner to take the kick. In the 27th minute Ali Benzekri shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tahar Boulaabi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Helmi Gasmi during the 28th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Helmi Gasmi kicked well hit freekick during the 29th minute of the match. Tarak Karoui hit a great freekick 31 minutes into the match. Slim Ben Bourguiba recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 34th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Haroune Ghodhbane showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Slim Ben Bourguiba in the 36th minute of the match. With a little luck, Hawkcombe's Tahar Boulaabi got control of the ball when Mohieddine Ghannouchi tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 40th minute, Mohieddine Ghannouchi fired away a killer shot towards the goal that, to the delight of Tahar Boulaabi, passed just outside the right post. Tahar Ben Karel sent away a hard shot on goal in the 42nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ali Benzekri in the 45th minute of play forced Hawkcombe's goalkeeper Tahar Boulaabi to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Tahar Ben Karel was the one to do the kick off. Ali Benzekri received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 54th minute. Tahar Boulaabi tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 55th minute, Tarak Karoui hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After a defensive mix-up in Hawkcombe's zone, Ali Benzekri stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Tahar Boulaabi came out of the goal and Ali Benzekri tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Mohamed Dhiab hit a great freekick 60 minutes into the match. Mehdi Ben Khalfaoui took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 61st minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Tahar Boulaabi. Hawkcombe's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. 69 minutes into the match, Launceston AFC's Ali Benzekri sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Tahar Boulaabi narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Tahar Ben Karel struck a weak shot in the 73rd minute. Haroune Ghodhbane didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Hawkcombe. Tahar Boulaabi showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Mohieddine Ghannouchi, who was totally free with the ball in the 74th minute. 76 minutes into the game, Mohamed Dhiab 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 Launceston AFC the free kick. Mohamed Dhiab hit a great freekick 76 minutes into the match. Slim Ben Bourguiba sent away a hard shot on goal in the 83rd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Slim Ben Bourguiba received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 88th minute. Haroune Ghodhbane tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 90 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Hawkcombe! When Hatem Essediri fell near the penalty area in the 95th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Hawkcombe's protests and gave Hatem Essediri a yellow card for diving instead.