League

Burton upon Trent
Spectators: 6726 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1726, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Hosni Sboui kicked off to start the match. If Ali Sellimi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 3rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ali Sellimi in the 5th minute of play forced Burton upon Trent City's goalkeeper Maher Saidi to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Ali Sellimi received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 6th minute. Maher Saidi tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Férid Bargougui fell near the penalty area in the 8th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Hitchin United's protests and gave Férid Bargougui a yellow card for diving instead. After 8 played minutes Hitchin United got a freekick which was hit by Férid Bargougui. Karim Cherif made a fantastic save in the 9th minute, when Abdelbaki Khelil sent off a good shot on target. A collision led to Hitchin United getting a freekick after 10 minutes play. Férid Bargougui hit a great ball. 15 minutes into the game, Borhene Hicheri was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Hitchin United's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Burton upon Trent City the free kick. In the 16th minute, Burton upon Trent City got a penalty, and Sahbi Ben Cherni placed the ball unsaveable into goal, by the right post. A collision led to Burton upon Trent City getting a freekick after 22 minutes play. Zoubeir Bejaoui hit a great ball. Maher Saidi showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Hosni Sboui, who was totally free with the ball in the 23rd minute. In the 29th minute Aymen Memmi shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Karim Cherif saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Hosni Sboui sent away a hard shot on goal in the 32nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Rashid Chipo kicked well hit freekick during the 38th minute of the match. Aymen Memmi struck a weak shot in the 39th minute. Karim Cherif didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Burton upon Trent City. In the 40th minute, Rashid Chipo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 45 minutes into the match, Hosni Sboui had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Maher Saidi. Burton upon Trent City's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Hosni Sboui was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-1. 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.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Aymen Memmi to strike the kick off in the second half. 55 minutes into the match, Burton upon Trent City's goalkeeper Maher Saidi had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Ali Sellimi. The audience was convinced that Abdelbaki Khelil's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Karim Cherif was relentless in the 64th minute of the game. After a defensive mix-up in Burton upon Trent City's zone, Ali Sellimi stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Maher Saidi came out of the goal and Ali Sellimi tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. When Ali Sellimi fell near the penalty area in the 74th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Hitchin United's protests and gave Ali Sellimi a yellow card for diving instead. After 74 played minutes Hitchin United got a freekick which was hit by Ali Sellimi. Abdelbaki Khelil sent away a hard shot on goal in the 75th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 77 played minutes Hitchin United got a freekick which was hit by Rashid Chipo . 78 minutes into the game, Burton upon Trent City's Aymen Memmi nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Karim Cherif made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 3-2. In the 83rd match minute, Hitchin United was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Rashid Chipo to maneuver through the defense. Abdelbaki Khelil blasted a shot towards the goal in the 88th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Karim Cherif having to make a save. Karim Cherif took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Abdelbaki Khelil, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Hitchin United's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.