League Play-Off

Acton Park
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Louis Reynolds took the kick off in the first half of the match. After a rather tough play, Altrincham City's Abraham Slater got a free kick in the 2nd minute. An unexpected shot in the 4th minute by Aaron Yorke got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. Louis Reynolds struck a weak shot in the 5th minute. CJ Trunks didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Acton FC. Stew Sherwood's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Ed Draper read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 7th minute of play. When Aaron Yorke fell near the penalty area in the 8th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Acton FC's protests and gave Aaron Yorke a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Altrincham City booed when Acton FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 8 match minutes in a wonderful position. Aaron Yorke didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 13th minute, Carlton Dryden ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Ed Draper was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. Ed Draper stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Carlton Dryden's shot from short distance in the 17th minute. In the 21st minute, Stew Sherwood 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 22nd match minute, Acton FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Louis Reynolds to maneuver through the defense. When Carlton Dryden came up free with the goalie in the 24th minute, the Altrincham City fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Carlton Dryden couldn't finish the play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Stew Sherwood in the 26th minute of play forced Acton FC's goalkeeper Ed Draper to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Ed Draper showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Carlton Dryden in the 27th minute of the match. In the 28thth minute of the game Carlton Dryden who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Acton FC's Ed Draper was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Louis Reynolds's late challenge caught a Altrincham City's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Louis Reynolds helped the player get up and apologised. Louis Reynolds hit a great freekick 29 minutes into the match. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Stew Sherwood in the 30th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Ed Draper saved Acton FC from getting behind. An unexpectedly hard shot by Stew Sherwood in the 33rd minute of play forced Acton FC's goalkeeper Ed Draper to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 34th minute Carlton Dryden shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ed Draper saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ivan Naisbitt recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 36th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Stew Sherwood in the 37th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Ed Draper saved Acton FC from getting behind. After 42 minutes of play, Altrincham City's Stew Sherwood made it 0-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Ed Draper was left in no man's land by his defense there! Acton FC's Ed Draper played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Carlton Dryden in the 46th minute of play. Stew Sherwood fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 47th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ed Draper having to interfere. Disappointed in the 0-2 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

After a defensive mix-up in Acton FC's zone, Carlton Dryden stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ed Draper came out of the goal and Carlton Dryden tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The supporters of Altrincham City booed when Acton FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 56 match minutes in a wonderful position. Aaron Yorke didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 58th match minute, Acton FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Louis Reynolds to maneuver through the defense. Ed Draper showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Carlton Dryden, who was totally free with the ball in the 60th minute. In the 61stth minute of the game Carlton Dryden who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Acton FC's Ed Draper was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. If Stew Sherwood had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 64th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Carlton Dryden in the 66th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Ed Draper prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Ed Draper made a fantastic save in the 68th minute, when Stew Sherwood sent off a good shot on target. In the 70th minute the ball was on its way in behind Acton FC's goalkeeper Ed Draper, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. If Stew Sherwood had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 73rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a defensive mix-up in Acton FC's zone, Stew Sherwood stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ed Draper came out of the goal and Stew Sherwood tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 78 minutes into the game, Altrincham City's Abraham Slater nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Ed Draper made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-3. When the match had gone on for 82 minutes, Carlton Dryden took a quick shot and it went in 0-4 without a chance for Ed Draper to make any attempt to save it. Stew Sherwood fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 87th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ed Draper having to interfere. Carlton Dryden fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 89th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ed Draper having to interfere. After a rather tough play, Acton FC's Louis Reynolds got a free kick in the 96th minute. When the final whistle sounded Altrincham City left the ground with the victory after a much better performance than Acton FC.