League Play-Off

Waltham Cross Park
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Marlon Tomkins blasted a shot towards the goal in the 3rd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Dave Plumber having to make a save. In the 4th minute, Waltham Cross's Francis Dixon dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-0. Francis Dixon blasted a shot towards the goal in the 7th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Dave Plumber having to make a save. Dylan Talbot hit a great freekick 13 minutes into the match. 20 minutes into the game, FC Leamington's Stuart Pearce nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Eric Brayford made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-1. Eric Brayford showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Dean Ward, who was totally free with the ball in the 23rd minute. 25 minutes into the match, FC Leamington's Dean Ward sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Eric Brayford narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Francis Dixon sent away a hard shot on goal in the 30th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Dean Ward recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 32nd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Stuart Pearce fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 34th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Eric Brayford having to interfere. If Francis Dixon had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 36th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Waltham Cross's Eric Brayford played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Stuart Pearce in the 39th minute of play. Francis Dixon blasted a shot towards the goal in the 42nd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Dave Plumber having to make a save. Brad Adams hit a great freekick 44 minutes into the match. 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.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Stuart Pearce made a kick off. 52 minutes into the game, Dean Ward recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Eric Brayford. Dean Ward showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-2. An unexpectedly hard shot by Stuart Pearce in the 56th minute of play forced Waltham Cross's goalkeeper Eric Brayford to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Eric Brayford showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Stuart Pearce, who was totally free with the ball in the 59th minute. In the 62nd minute, Marlon Tomkins 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. In the 66th minute, FC Leamington's Stuart Pearce dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-3. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Graham Neville during the 69th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After a rather tough play, Waltham Cross's Graham Neville got a free kick in the 70th minute. Daryl Reynolds, 70 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Stuart Pearce in the 76th minute of play forced Waltham Cross's goalkeeper Eric Brayford to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Stuart Pearce did some fancy footwork in front of goal and succeeded to deceive the defenders so he could slam the ball in 1-4 to the left of a surprised Eric Brayford 77 minutes into the match. In the 81st minute Stuart Pearce shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Eric Brayford saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. With a little luck, Waltham Cross's Eric Brayford got control of the ball when Dean Ward tried to sneak it across the goal line. Gareth Stamer hit a great freekick 86 minutes into the match. After having played for 87 minutes, Dean Ward managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. FC Leamington's supporters crossed their fingers, but Dean Ward was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Eric Brayford took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Stuart Pearce, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 91 minutes in the game, Stuart Pearce fired away an excellent shot, which passed to the side of the right post without Eric Brayford having to interfere. In the 94th minute, Stuart Pearce 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. Waltham Cross's Eric Brayford proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 96th minute of the match, managed to save Waltham Cross from getting a goal against them. When the final whistle was heard the away supporters stood up and showed their joy. FC Leamington had managed to secure a win in what was a close match throughout.