League Play-Off

Annscroft Stadium
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Luke Dryden made the kick off which started today's match. After 4 played minutes Harleston United got a freekick which was hit by Ryan Bell. Eddie Starr's late challenge caught a Harleston United's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Eddie Starr helped the player get up and apologised. In the 7th match minute, Annscroft was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Eddie Starr to maneuver through the defense. Ivan Hornsby made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Luke Dryden in the 15th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Jeremy Monk in the 19th minute of play forced Harleston United's goalkeeper Roger Whitworth to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Jeremy Monk had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 25th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Reg Pool during the 27th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Reg Pool kicked well hit freekick during the 27th minute of the match. In the 28th minute of the match Basil Johnstone sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Ivan Hornsby skillfully saved the ball. Luke Dryden 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. After having played for 34 minutes, Eddie Starr managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Annscroft's supporters crossed their fingers, but Eddie Starr 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 Luke Dryden in the 36th minute of play forced Annscroft's goalkeeper Ivan Hornsby to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Carlton Spurgeon received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 37th minute. Ivan Hornsby tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After some careless play in the Annscroft defense, Luke Dryden kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Ivan Hornsby. The Annscroft fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Ivan Hornsby should have stopped the shot. Carlton Spurgeon succeeded in the game's 45th minute to shoot an unreachable shot under the crossbar and scored - 0-2. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-2.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Jeremy Monk made a kick off. Jeremy Monk sent away a hard shot on goal in the 51st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The supporters of Harleston United booed when Annscroft was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 52 match minutes in a wonderful position. Reg Pool didn't get a good kick on the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 53rd minute, Luke Dryden managed to get in a good position for a shot. Harleston United's supporters rose to their feet, but Luke Dryden was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ivan Hornsby breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After a rather tough play, Annscroft's Robert Warden got a free kick in the 54th minute. With a little luck, Annscroft's Ivan Hornsby got control of the ball when Carlton Spurgeon tried to sneak it across the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 58th minute, Jeremy Monk managed to get in a good position for a shot. Annscroft's supporters rose to their feet, but Jeremy Monk was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Roger Whitworth breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After 63 played minutes Annscroft got a freekick which was hit by Lewis Locke. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Grant Togwell during the 71st minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The supporters of Annscroft booed when Harleston United was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 71 match minutes in a wonderful position. Grant Togwell didn't get a good kick on the ball. Ivan Hornsby didn't succeed in stopping the ball in the 74th minute, which inside left pole to 0-3. In a very dangerous position, a player in Harleston United fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 82nd minute. Penalty! Harleston United's Roger Whitworth played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jeremy Monk in the 86th minute of play. Roger Whitworth took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Eddie Starr, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 96 minutes into the match, Harleston United's Luke Dryden sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Ivan Hornsby narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Eddie Starr received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 98th minute. Roger Whitworth tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. Harleston United walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.