League Play-Off

Congleton
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Jacob Dale took the kick off in the first half of the match. Denis Rothwell made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jordan Panther in the 3rd minute of play. Jacob Dales short, quick shot in the 5thth minute got Craig Cooke to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. 7 minutes into the game, Eddie Lister was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Eston's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Congleton the free kick. After a rather tough play, Eston's Eddie Lister got a free kick in the 7th minute. If Damien Farrell had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 9th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a rather tough play, Eston's Eddie Lister got a free kick in the 10th minute. Craig Cooke showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Jacob Dale in the 11th minute of the match. 16 minutes into the match, Eston's goalkeeper Craig Cooke had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Damien Farrell. Eston's Barrie Hicks got a good chance for a goal in the 23rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Jerry Jump charged in rather forcefully in the 25th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Jerry Jump the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Jerry Jump hit a great freekick 25 minutes into the match. Denis Rothwell showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Barrie Hicks in the 26th minute of the match. If Damien Farrell had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 30th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Craig Cooke made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jacob Dale in the 31st minute of play. Barrie Hicks struck a weak shot in the 32nd minute. Denis Rothwell didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Eston. An unexpectedly hard shot by Barrie Hicks in the 35th minute of play forced Congleton's goalkeeper Denis Rothwell to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Denis Rothwell showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Jordan Panther in the 38th minute of the match. In the 39th minute Jordan Panther shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Denis Rothwell saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Denis Rothwell took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Barrie Hicks, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Jordan Panther received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 42nd minute. Denis Rothwell tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Jordan Panther in the 46th minute of play forced Congleton's goalkeeper Denis Rothwell to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Jacob Dale recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 48th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 1-0.

The wind increased when Jordan Panther made the kick off in the second half. Barrie Hicks received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 54th minute. Denis Rothwell tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Samuel Coote's late challenge caught a Eston's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Samuel Coote helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, Congleton's Samuel Coote got a free kick in the 55th minute. In the 58th minute, Barrie Hicks fired away a shot on goal. He put a little to much spin on the ball and sent it just wide of the right post. After a rather tough play, Congleton's Samuel Coote got a free kick in the 65th minute. Tris Horsey, 65 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. 68 minutes into the match, Congleton's goalkeeper Denis Rothwell had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Barrie Hicks. Damien Farrell sent away a hard shot on goal in the 77th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 79 played minutes Eston got a freekick which was hit by Eddie Lister. In the 80th minute, Ryan Botham sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Eston's Craig Cooke didn't even have to move. In the 82nd minute Jordan Panther shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Denis Rothwell saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 82nd minute, Den Clarke hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 87th minute, Congleton's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Jordan Panther fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. In the 90th minute, Ryan Botham hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 91st minute, Tris Horsey sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Congleton's Denis Rothwell didn't even have to move. The home crowd let out a huge roar when the referee blew for the end of the game. Congleton were victorious despite being under pressure from Eston for much of the match.