League

Rainhill
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Warren Bartram got the match started through his kick off. Barney Meade sent away a hard shot on goal in the 5th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Rio Lynch could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 12th minute of the match, but Tom Boulding made a huge save. 15 minutes into the game, Robin Norton cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Marty Long was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 19th minute, Warren Bartram fired away a killer shot towards the goal that, to the delight of Tom Boulding, passed just outside the right post. Robin Norton received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 24th minute. Marty Long tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The supporters of Ealing United booed when Rainhill was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 25 match minutes in a wonderful position. Zane Sansom didn't get a good kick on the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 29th minute, Robin Norton managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ealing United's supporters rose to their feet, but Robin Norton was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Marty Long breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Rio Lynch who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 30thth minute tested the skills of Tom Boulding when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Ealing United's Tom Boulding played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Warren Bartram in the 32nd minute of play. In the 34th minute, Robin Norton ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Marty Long was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-2. When Zane Sansom fell near the penalty area in the 38th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Rainhill's protests and gave Zane Sansom a yellow card for diving instead. In the 39thth minute of the game Robin Norton who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Rainhill's Marty Long was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. After a rather tough play, Ealing United's Alfred Hoult got a free kick in the 40th minute. In the 41st minute, Marcus Howson sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Ealing United's Tom Boulding didn't even have to move. The supporters of Rainhill booed when Ealing United was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 46 match minutes in a wonderful position. Vinnie Saunders didn't get a good kick on the ball. 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.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Robin Norton to make the kick off. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Rio Lynch in the 53rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Tom Boulding prevented the ball from getting in the gole. If Robin Norton had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 54th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After having played for 56 minutes, Eddy Crowell managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ealing United's supporters crossed their fingers, but Eddy Crowell was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Robin Norton fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 61st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Marty Long having to interfere. Dom Brent's late challenge caught a Ealing United's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Dom Brent helped the player get up and apologised. After 63 played minutes Rainhill got a freekick which was hit by Dom Brent. Tom Boulding made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Warren Bartram in the 68th minute of play. In the 69th minute the ball was on its way in behind Ealing United's goalkeeper Tom Boulding, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 72 minutes into the match, Ealing United's goal looked a bit too open when Warren Bartram came free, but Tom Boulding reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rio Lynch in the 73rd minute of play forced Ealing United's goalkeeper Tom Boulding to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The audience was convinced that Robin Norton's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Marty Long was relentless in the 76th minute of the game. In the 77th minute of the game, Brian Cadwallader landed unfortunately after trying to head the ball, and pulled a muscle in the back, so badly that he had to leave the field. When Barney Meade fell near the penalty area in the 77th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Ealing United's protests and gave Barney Meade a yellow card for diving instead. A collision led to Ealing United getting a freekick after 77 minutes play. Barney Meade hit a great ball. When Eddy Crowell fell near the penalty area in the 82nd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Ealing United's protests and gave Eddy Crowell a yellow card for diving instead. When Stephen Brooke fell near the penalty area in the 84th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Rainhill's protests and gave Stephen Brooke a yellow card for diving instead. Stephen Brooke kicked well hit freekick during the 84th minute of the match. Rainhill's defense didn't have a chance, in the 86th minute, when Robin Norton scored to the left of an out of position Marty Long, making the score, 0-3. In the 88th match minute, Rainhill was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Rio Lynch to maneuver through the defense. In the 90th match minute, Ealing United was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ralf Kennedy to maneuver through the defense. Tom Boulding showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Rio Lynch, who was totally free with the ball in the 93rd minute. The Rainhill fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. Ealing United were clearly better and deserved to take the win.