League Play-Off

Ludlow
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Mike Watts started the match with the kick off. Adam Gettins received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 4th minute. Lance Partridge tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 7th minute, Ivor Marston left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Ludlow fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-0. Ivor Marston received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 15th minute. Nathanial Hardcastle tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 18th minute, Rod Cookson 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. Nathanial Hardcastle made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Mike Watts in the 20th minute of play. After having played for 21 minutes, Ivor Marston managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ludlow's supporters crossed their fingers, but Ivor Marston was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Rod Cookson sent away a hard shot on goal in the 25th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience thought a goal was coming when Ivor Marston got free with Nathanial Hardcastle in the 27th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After a rather tough play, Great Ayton` FC's Will Ashby got a free kick in the 27th minute. Nathanial Hardcastle made a fantastic save in the 29th minute, when Ivor Marston sent off a good shot on target. Nathanial Hardcastle took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Mike Watts, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Great Ayton` FC's Rod Cookson got a good chance for a goal in the 38th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. With a little luck, Great Ayton` FC's Nathanial Hardcastle got control of the ball when Ivor Marston tried to sneak it across the goal line. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 1-0 at half-time.

Mike Watts struck a weak shot in the 60th minute. Nathanial Hardcastle didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ludlow. After 61 played minutes Great Ayton` FC got a freekick which was hit by Will Ashby. If Ivor Marston had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 64th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Nathanial Hardcastle showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Mike Watts, who was totally free with the ball in the 66th minute. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 71st minute of the game. One of Ludlow:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Great Ayton` FC:s goal. After having played for 80 minutes, Mike Watts managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ludlow's supporters crossed their fingers, but Mike Watts was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ivor Marston in the 82nd minute of play forced Great Ayton` FC's goalkeeper Nathanial Hardcastle to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 83rdth minute of the game Mike Watts who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Great Ayton` FC's Nathanial Hardcastle was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Barney Auty charged in rather forcefully in the 86th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Barney Auty the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 85 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Great Ayton` FC! Ed Burton placed the ball on the penalty spot and got himself ready to shoot. Post out! After 89 minutes, Pat Addison mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Great Ayton` FC and the Ludlow players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 89th match minute, Great Ayton` FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Pat Addison to maneuver through the defense. In the 92nd minute, Ludlow's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Rod Cookson fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. 94 minutes into the match, Ludlow's goalkeeper Lance Partridge had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Adam Gettins. Ivor Marston sent away a hard shot on goal in the 97th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. In the 100th match minute, Ludlow was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Tyrone Beardsley to maneuver through the defense. The second half was just like the first, even and exciting. The match ended in a draw.