League Play-Off

Sydney Superstar
Spectators: 37 (Terracing: 29, 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. Corey Leydin started the match with the kick off. In the 6th match minute, Ellam was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Antony Millard to maneuver through the defense. In the 7th minute Corey Leydin shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Doyle Newton saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Michael Soekirno recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 13th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Arnie Howie stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Michael Soekirno's shot from short distance in the 14th minute. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Larry Crampton in the 22nd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Arnie Howie saved Sydney Rockets from getting behind. Doyle Newton showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Corey Leydin in the 27th minute of the match. The audience was convinced that Larry Crampton's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Arnie Howie was relentless in the 29th minute of the game. Michael Soekirno took the ball and in the 30 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Arnie Howie. Arnie Howie dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. Neil Gorham received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 34th minute. Doyle Newton tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The audience was convinced that Michael Soekirno's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Arnie Howie was relentless in the 37th minute of the game. After a defensive mix-up in Ellam's zone, Neil Gorham stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Doyle Newton came out of the goal and Neil Gorham tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Corey Leydin sent away a hard shot on goal in the 46th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 48 minutes into the match, Sydney Rockets's Corey Leydin sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Doyle Newton narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

Michael Soekirno who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 52ndth minute tested the skills of Arnie Howie when he managed to save the team from getting behind. 55 minutes into the match, Sydney Rockets's goal looked a bit too open when Larry Crampton came free, but Arnie Howie reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Doyle Newton came out of the goal in the 58th minute to try and stop a shot by Sydney Rockets's Loud Wharton. But to his dismay, Loud Wharton quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-1. Arnie Howie took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Larry Crampton, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 62 minutes, Michael Soekirno mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Ellam and the Sydney Rockets players grew even worse after the yellow card. Michael Soekirno kicked well hit freekick during the 62nd minute of the match. If Michael Soekirno had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 64th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 69th minute Corey Leydin shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Doyle Newton saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Arnie Howie didn't succeed to prevent the ball from going into goal when Ellam's Bryan Favas shot an unexpected shot in the crossbar's under edge and made 1-2 in the ordered_time% minute. Larry Crampton recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 73rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Arnie Howie made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Larry Crampton in the 75th minute of play. The supporters of Sydney Rockets booed when Ellam was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 79 match minutes in a wonderful position. Damon Gronow didn't get a good kick on the ball. After 81 played minutes Ellam got a freekick which was hit by Larry Crampton. 85 minutes into the match, Sydney Rockets's Neil Gorham sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Doyle Newton narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 87th match minute, Sydney Rockets was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Loud Wharton to maneuver through the defense. Michael Soekirno received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 91st minute. Arnie Howie tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Larry Crampton in the 93rd minute of play forced Sydney Rockets's goalkeeper Arnie Howie to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 95 minutes into the match, Sydney Rockets's Neil Gorham sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Doyle Newton narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Michael Soekirno sent away a hard shot on goal in the 96th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The Ellam supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Ellam would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.