Friendly League

Preston
Spectators: 38 (Terracing: 29, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Preston AFC's Camel Bessou 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. In the 4th match minute, Leigh was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Andy Bailey to maneuver through the defense. After 5 played minutes, Preston AFC's Mouloud Merbah shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Trevor Featherstone 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 Preston AFC reached it. Trevor Featherstone made an important save on a dangerous shot by Hamid Azem in the 6th minute. Belaid Djamel kicked well hit freekick during the 10th minute of the match. Micheal Hartley sent away a hard shot on goal in the 15th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Barry Dobson recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 17th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Belaid Zitouni showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Dennis Baker, who was totally free with the ball in the 18th minute. If Barry Dobson had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 20th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Trevor Featherstone showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Mustapha Asma, who was totally free with the ball in the 22nd minute. The audience was convinced that Dennis Baker's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Belaid Zitouni was relentless in the 24th minute of the game. In the 30thth minute of the game Dennis Baker who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Preston AFC's Belaid Zitouni was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. After 32 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Preston AFC! The referee gave Leigh a penalty, 33 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Dennis Baker, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Preston AFC's Belaid Zitouni. 0-1. In the 37th minute Camel Bessou shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Trevor Featherstone saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Abderrahmane Morceli hit a great freekick 39 minutes into the match. In the 40th minute of the match Gary Bilton sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Belaid Zitouni skillfully saved the ball. Victor Oates sent away a hard shot on goal in the 43rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Preston AFC's Belaid Zitouni played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Dennis Baker in the 47th minute of play. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-1.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Dennis Baker to strike the kick off in the second half. Victor Oates received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 52nd minute. Belaid Zitouni tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After a rather tough play, Leigh's Ronnie Endean got a free kick in the 56th minute. The supporters of Leigh booed when Preston AFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 59 match minutes in a wonderful position. Hamid Azem didn't get a good kick on the ball. Barry Dobson struck a weak shot in the 63rd minute. Belaid Zitouni didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Leigh. Dennis Baker fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 65th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Belaid Zitouni having to interfere. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Dennis Baker in the 67th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Belaid Zitouni prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 68 minutes into the match, Leigh's goal looked a bit too open when Mustapha Asma came free, but Trevor Featherstone reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 71 minutes into the game, Bellemou Sellal cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-1. Trevor Featherstone was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Trevor Featherstone came out of the goal in the 74th minute to try and stop a shot by Preston AFC's Hamid Azem. But to his dismay, Hamid Azem quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-1. Trevor Featherstone showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Camel Bessou in the 76th minute of the match. Brad Deaconsfield lost his temper 79 minutes into the game and shoved another player to the ground. He was immediately shown a red card. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 78th minute of the game. One of Leigh:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Preston AFC:s goal. In the 84th minute, Victor Oates 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. Barry Dobson hit a great freekick 85 minutes into the match. 88 minutes into the match, Leigh's goal looked a bit too open when Bellemou Sellal came free, but Trevor Featherstone reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Trevor Featherstone took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Camel Bessou, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 95th minute Mustapha Asma shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Trevor Featherstone saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line.