League Play-Off

The Bottledome
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) An unexpectedly hard shot by Mo Salah in the 6th minute of play forced Glasston's goalkeeper Carlton Convine to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Manly FC's defense didn't have a chance, in the 8th minute, when Rafael van der Vaart scored to the left of an out of position Ray Clemence, making the score, 1-0. A hard shot 20 in the game by Rafael van der Vaart from a close distance when the talented Ray Clemence managed to make a qualified save. Manly FC's players were relieved. Carlton Convine took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Mo Salah, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Mo Salah blasted a shot towards the goal in the 25th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Carlton Convine having to make a save. Rafael van der Vaart might have been able to make a better finish in the 29th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Ray Clemence. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Rafael van der Vaart ran back to his position shaking his head. Ray Clemence took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Rafael van der Vaart, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Mo Salah struck a weak shot in the 31st minute. Carlton Convine didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Manly FC. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Mo Salah in the 32nd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Carlton Convine saved Glasston from getting behind. Glasston's Carlton Convine played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mo Salah in the 35th minute of play. Manly FC's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Duke Carberry in the 37th minute. Jim Schmeltzer tried to clear up in front of the goal, but didn't succeed and rather the ball rolled into the own goal to the right of a despaired Carlton Convine. An unnecessary self made goal, 1-1 in the 37th minute. If Mo Salah had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 43rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ray Clemence showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Mete Golob in the 46th minute of the match.

The wind increased when Rafael van der Vaart made the kick off in the second half. Rafael van der Vaart fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 55th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ray Clemence having to interfere. In the 57th minute Rafael van der Vaart shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ray Clemence saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Rafael van der Vaart fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 58th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ray Clemence having to interfere. Manly FC's Alexander Arnold managed, thanks to a brazen rush, stole the ball on a throw-in made by Gregg Didlick in the 61 minute of the game. In the 62nd minute, Mo Salah left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Manly FC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-2. Rafael van der Vaart recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 69th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. John Aldridge succeeded to score despite a near miss that spronge from right pole into the goal to 1-3 in the 75th playminute. Ray Clemence made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Rafael van der Vaart in the 80th minute of play. Glasston were awarded a corner in the 82th minute after Manly FC's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Tom Rheistein took the corner. After a rather tough play, Glasston's Rafael van der Vaart got a free kick in the 87th minute. Carlton Convine was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but John Aldridge showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-4 in the 95 minute of play. Manly FC played a much better game than Glasston and deserved their victory. The Glasston players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.