League Play-Off

Escalon Stadium
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Wesley Carver took the kick off in the first half of the match. If Sydney Cowan had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 7th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. After some fancy dribbling in the 8th minute, Sydney Cowan managed to get in a good position for a shot. Downriver AFC's supporters rose to their feet, but Sydney Cowan was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Carlo Thorne breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Ian Tompkins might have been able to make a better finish in the 10th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Carlo Thorne. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Ian Tompkins ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 13th minute, Tanner Mays hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 14th minute, Oscar Tomlinson hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After having played for 16 minutes, Domenico Arden managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Downriver AFC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Domenico Arden was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Erik Thorpe sent away a hard shot on goal in the 20th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After having played for 25 minutes, Sydney Cowan managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Downriver AFC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Sydney Cowan was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. With a little luck, Downriver AFC's Ivan Higgins got control of the ball when Daron Bright tried to sneak it across the goal line. After 32 minutes, Ian Tompkins mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Downriver AFC and the Escalon players grew even worse after the yellow card. Ian Tompkins kicked well hit freekick during the 32nd minute of the match. Carlo Thorne stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Sydney Cowan's shot from short distance in the 35th minute. If Ian Tompkins had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 36th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Daron Bright scored 1-1 in the 38th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Ivan Higgins, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Erik Thorpe charged in rather forcefully in the 42nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Erik Thorpe the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Sydney Cowan sent away a hard shot on goal in the 44th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When Oscar Tomlinson came up free with the goalie in the 45th minute, the Downriver AFC 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 Oscar Tomlinson couldn't finish the play. Carlo Thorne showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Sydney Cowan, who was totally free with the ball in the 47th minute. The score stood at 1-1 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Sydney Cowan to strike the kick off in the second half. In the 51st minute, Duke Haney hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Sydney Cowan sent away a hard shot on goal in the 58th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. 59 minutes into the game, Downriver AFC's Sydney Cowan nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Carlo Thorne made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-2. After some fancy dribbling in the 64th minute, Sydney Cowan managed to get in a good position for a shot. Downriver AFC's supporters rose to their feet, but Sydney Cowan was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Carlo Thorne breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. When Downriver AFC's Sydney Cowan in the 66th minute got a chance for a shot 66th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Escalon's goalie prevented a goal. When Sydney Cowan came up free with the goalie in the 71st minute, the Downriver AFC 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 Sydney Cowan couldn't finish the play. The long shot by Filiberto Lovell in the 73rd minute really tested Carlo Thorne's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal. The supporters of Downriver AFC booed when Escalon was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 74 match minutes in a wonderful position. Erik Thorpe didn't get a good kick on the ball. 78 minutes into the match, Escalon's goal looked a bit too open when Sydney Cowan came free, but Carlo Thorne reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Downriver AFC's Ian Tompkins got a good chance for a goal in the 80th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 82nd minute the ball was on its way in behind Escalon's goalkeeper Carlo Thorne, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. With a little luck, Escalon's Carlo Thorne got control of the ball when Sydney Cowan tried to sneak it across the goal line. 89 minutes into the match, Downriver AFC's Sydney Cowan sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Carlo Thorne narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Escalon's defense didn't have a chance, in the 90th minute, when Sydney Cowan scored to the left of an out of position Carlo Thorne, making the score, 1-3. Sydney Cowan struck a weak shot in the 94th minute. Carlo Thorne didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Downriver AFC. Downriver AFC played a much better game than Escalon and deserved their victory. The Escalon players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.