League Play-Off

Leconfield Park
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Leconfield's Dale Mathews 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. Leconfield's Shahron Lim played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Faiz Choy in the 7th minute of play. Zak Ning hit a great freekick 11 minutes into the match. Faiz Choy sent away a hard shot on goal in the 15th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Faiz Choy's late challenge caught a Leconfield's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Faiz Choy helped the player get up and apologised. After 16 played minutes Astley got a freekick which was hit by Faiz Choy. After a defensive mix-up in Astley's zone, Dale Mathews stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Joel Seng came out of the goal and Dale Mathews tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Dale Mathews struck a weak shot in the 22nd minute. Joel Seng didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Leconfield. The audience was convinced that Dale Mathews's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Joel Seng was relentless in the 24th minute of the game. If Sharizan Hoe had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 27th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 30 minutes, Zak Ning mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Astley and the Leconfield players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 30th match minute, Astley was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Zak Ning to maneuver through the defense. Sharizan Dhanabalan charged in rather forcefully in the 33rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Sharizan Dhanabalan the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. A collision led to Astley getting a freekick after 33 minutes play. Sharizan Dhanabalan hit a great ball. In the 40thth minute of the game Faiz Choy who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Leconfield's Shahron Lim was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. A collision led to Leconfield getting a freekick after 45 minutes play. Nicholas Nagasaki hit a great ball. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

52 minutes into the game, Sharizan Hoe recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Shahron Lim. Sharizan Hoe showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 0-1. Astley's Sharizan Dhanabalan got his second yellow card of the match in the 56th minute. The referee ordered Sharizan Dhanabalan off the ground. In the 57th match minute, Astley was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Sharizan Dhanabalan to maneuver through the defense. An unexpectedly hard shot by Hafriz Soon in the 59th minute of play forced Astley's goalkeeper Joel Seng to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Hafriz Soon sent away a hard shot on goal in the 61st minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. If Hafriz Soon had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 62nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 65th play minute Faiz Choy came free and shot an unsuspected shot which went into goal from the right pole behind a surprised Shahron Lim. 0-2. In the 72nd minute Dale Mathews shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Joel Seng saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After having played for 80 minutes, Faiz Choy managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Astley's supporters crossed their fingers, but Faiz Choy was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. If Hafriz Soon had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 82nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Hafriz Soon in the 91st minute of play forced Astley's goalkeeper Joel Seng to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 93rd match minute, Leconfield was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Zack Chai to maneuver through the defense. When the final whistle was heard the away supporters stood up and showed their joy. Astley had managed to secure a win in what was a close match throughout.