League Play-Off

Hartlepool Park
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Micheal Groom made the kick off and thus started the match. In the 3rd minute, Jim Newbury 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. When Micheal Groom came up free with the goalie in the 5th minute, the Hartlepool 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 Micheal Groom couldn't finish the play. Martin Beale made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Micheal Groom in the 8th minute of play. Jim Newbury received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 10th minute. Martin Beale tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Micheal Groom recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 12th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Hartlepool's Jim Newbury got a good chance for a goal in the 14th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Martin Beale made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Micheal Groom in the 16th minute of play. Jim Newbury fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 21st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Martin Beale having to interfere. Micheal Groom struck a weak shot in the 24th minute. Martin Beale didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Hartlepool. Trev Davies sent away a hard shot on goal in the 26th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 31 minutes of play, Hartlepool's Micheal Groom made it 1-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Martin Beale was left in no man's land by his defense there! 35 minutes into the match, Cookham's goal looked a bit too open when Micheal Groom came free, but Martin Beale reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 38th minute of the match Grant Berryman shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Martin Beale showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. 39 minutes into the match, Hartlepool's goal looked a bit too open when Trev Davies came free, but Ian Longstaff reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Jimmy Yorke sent away a hard shot on goal in the 42nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 1-0 at half-time.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Gus Bell was the one to do the kick off. If Jim Newbury had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 52nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Micheal Groom in the 54th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Martin Beale prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After 57 played minutes Gus Bell rounded Hartlepool's defense and shot a beautiful shot into goal via left pole - 1-1. In the 61st minute, Trev Davies 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. After 64th play minutes Jim Newbury shot 2-1, a short shot which went by Martin Beale and just under the crossbar into goal. In the 69th minute, Hartlepool's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Trev Davies fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. Gus Bell recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 71st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. A collision led to Hartlepool getting a freekick after 77 minutes play. Jim Newbury hit a great ball. Trev Davies fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 82nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ian Longstaff having to interfere. The supporters of Cookham booed when Hartlepool was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 83 match minutes in a wonderful position. Leo Clarke didn't get a good kick on the ball. Martin Beale made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jim Newbury in the 88th minute of play. In the 88th match minute, Cookham was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jimmy Yorke to maneuver through the defense. 89 minutes in the game, the ball went up into the seats when Hartlepool's Micheal Groom fired away a shot that was just a little bit too high. He walked away shaking his head. In the 92nd minute, CJ Blackwood hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 97 minutes into the match, Trev Davies had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Ian Longstaff. Hartlepool's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Trev Davies was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-2. The teams fought very hard right up to the final whistle. Both sets of players were happy to go away with a draw.