League Play-Off

Meols Park
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. Bruce Haskell started the match with the kick off. Meols AFC's Bruce Haskell was standing unmarked in front of the goal when he, in the 5th play minute, got the ball and easily drilled it into the goal. After 10 minutes of play, Stockbridge AFC's Simon Jordoan made it 1-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Les Hughes-Guy was left in no man's land by his defense there! 14 minutes into the game, Stockbridge AFC's Simon Jordoan nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Les Hughes-Guy made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-2. Meols AFC's Les Hughes-Guy played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Byron Askew in the 19th minute of play. After having played for 23 minutes, Byron Askew managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Stockbridge AFC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Byron Askew was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Lenny Hazledine showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Bruce Haskell in the 29th minute of the match. Geoff Carragher received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 30th minute. Lenny Hazledine tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Geoff Carragher fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 32nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Lenny Hazledine having to interfere. In the 35th match minute, Stockbridge AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Andre Stockdale to maneuver through the defense. 40 minutes into the game, Marty Mayfield was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Stockbridge AFC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Meols AFC the free kick. In the 40th minute, Marty Mayfield hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. A collision led to Stockbridge AFC getting a freekick after 46 minutes play. Andre Stockdale hit a great ball. Marc Denham took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 47th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Lenny Hazledine. Stockbridge AFC's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Geoff Carragher took the ball and in the 48 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Lenny Hazledine. Lenny Hazledine dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-2.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Byron Askew to make the kick off. Simon Jordoans short, quick shot in the 64thth minute got Les Hughes-Guy to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. 66 minutes into the match, Stockbridge AFC's Simon Jordoan sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Les Hughes-Guy narrowly saved just below the crossbar. If Bruce Haskell had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 68th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Lenny Hazledine showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Geoff Carragher, who was totally free with the ball in the 70th minute. When Stockbridge AFC's Byron Askew in the 76th minute got a chance for a shot 76th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Meols AFC's goalie prevented a goal. If Simon Jordoan had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 78th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Les Hughes-Guy made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Byron Askew in the 80th minute of play. Thanks to some nice moves Simon Jordoan could shoot a difficult shot in the 82nd minute, which Les Hughes-Guy however easily saved by the left post. Byron Askew sent away a hard shot on goal in the 83rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After having played for 87 minutes, Geoff Carragher managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Meols AFC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Geoff Carragher was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. If Bruce Haskell had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 89th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Stockbridge AFC's Lenny Hazledine played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Bruce Haskell in the 91st minute of play. In the 93rd minute, Vernon Barrow hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 96th minute Stockbridge AFC were awarded a corner. Luke Krief went to the cornerflag to take it. After having played for 98 minutes, Byron Askew managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Stockbridge AFC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Byron Askew was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal.