League Play-Off

Manuel Marques
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, 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. Jonathan Gee started the match with the kick off. The audience was convinced that Rory Bryant's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Darell Murdock was relentless in the 2nd minute of the game. Darell Murdock showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Rory Bryant, who was totally free with the ball in the 7th minute. Darell Murdock made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Rory Bryant in the 8th minute of play. Darell Murdock made an important save on a dangerous shot by Flint Corley in the 12th minute. In the 16th minute Rory Bryant shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Darell Murdock saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a rather tough play, Wallingford AFC's Gabriel Sumner got a free kick in the 20th minute. In the 21st minute, Rory Bryant fired away a shot on goal. He put a little to much spin on the ball and sent it just wide of the right post. If Rory Bryant had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 22nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a defensive mix-up in Wallingford AFC's zone, Rory Bryant stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Darell Murdock came out of the goal and Rory Bryant tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Flint Corley struck a weak shot in the 26th minute. Darell Murdock didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for SCU Torreense. After 27 minutes, Gabriel Sumner mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Wallingford AFC and the SCU Torreense players grew even worse after the yellow card. Darell Murdock made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Rory Bryant in the 29th minute of play. In the 33rd minute, Rory Bryant fired away a killer shot towards the goal that, to the delight of Darell Murdock, passed just outside the right post. 35 minutes into the game, SCU Torreense's Flint Corley nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Darell Murdock made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 3-0. After having played for 39 minutes, Flint Corley managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. SCU Torreense's supporters crossed their fingers, but Flint Corley was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 42nd minute of the match, Richie Carver tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Darell Murdock saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. Flint Corley's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Darell Murdock read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 45th minute of play. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Rory Bryant to strike the kick off in the second half. Darell Murdock showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Rory Bryant in the 54th minute of the match. 56 minutes into the match, Wallingford AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Flint Corley came free, but Darell Murdock reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Darell Murdock made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Flint Corley in the 60th minute of play. In the 61st minute SCU Torreense were awarded a corner. Solomon London went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner led SCU Torreense's Virgilio Huston to fire away a dangerous shot which Darell Murdock despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Jonathan Gee's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Claudio Engel read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 70th minute of play. 72 minutes into the match, Rory Bryant notched a goal, 4-0, to the right of Wallingford AFC's Darell Murdock. Darell Murdock was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Wallingford AFC's Darell Murdock played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rory Bryant in the 76th minute of play. Flint Corley fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 83rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Darell Murdock having to interfere. Richie Carver might have been able to make a better finish in the 85th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Darell Murdock. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Richie Carver ran back to his position shaking his head. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Flint Corley in the 88th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Darell Murdock prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After some fancy dribbling in the 96th minute, Rory Bryant managed to get in a good position for a shot. SCU Torreense's supporters rose to their feet, but Rory Bryant was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Darell Murdock breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. It was no surprise that this one had ended in a win for the home team. SCU Torreense had played much better football throughout.