League Play-Off

Gedling Stadium
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Derek Poynton took the kick off in the first half of the match. Austen Woodhead recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 7th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Gedling City's James Kirk played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jermaine Branch in the 10th minute of play. After 11 minutes, Fraser Ellerby mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Gedling City and the derik fc players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 11 played minutes Gedling City got a freekick which was hit by Fraser Ellerby. Austen Woodhead's late challenge caught a derik fc's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Austen Woodhead helped the player get up and apologised. In the 15th match minute, Gedling City was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Fraser Ellerby to maneuver through the defense. 22 minutes into the game, Jonathan Marenghi cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. James Kirk was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. The audience thought a goal was coming when Austen Woodhead got free with Norman Wakefield in the 32nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 33rd match minute, derik fc was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Laurence Porter to maneuver through the defense. In the 34th minute Derek Poynton shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Norman Wakefield saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Norman Wakefield made a fantastic save in the 35th minute, when Austen Woodhead sent off a good shot on target. If Austen Woodhead had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 39th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jermaine Branch took the ball and in the 42 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised James Kirk. James Kirk dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-2. James Kirk took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Jermaine Branch, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-2 lead.

The wind increased when Jermaine Branch made the kick off in the second half. Norman Wakefield took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Derek Poynton, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Austen Woodhead struck a weak shot in the 52nd minute. Norman Wakefield didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Gedling City. After having played for 54 minutes, Jonathan Marenghi managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. derik fc's supporters crossed their fingers, but Jonathan Marenghi was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 56th minute Derek Poynton shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Norman Wakefield saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Jonathan Marenghi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 61st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jermaine Branch received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 79th minute. James Kirk tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After having played for 80 minutes, Derek Poynton managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Gedling City's supporters crossed their fingers, but Derek Poynton was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 84 minutes into the match, Gedling City's goal looked a bit too open when Jermaine Branch came free, but James Kirk reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When Pierce Glasby fell near the penalty area in the 88th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Gedling City's protests and gave Pierce Glasby a yellow card for diving instead. 87 minutes into the game, one of Gedling City:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. Jermaine Branch succeeded to score despite a near miss that spronge from right pole into the goal to 0-3 in the 90th playminute. In the 97th play minute Jonathan Marenghi came free and shot an unsuspected shot which went into goal from the right pole behind a surprised James Kirk. 0-4. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. derik fc walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.