League Play-Off

Merriton
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Howie Maciver took the kick off in the first half of the match. In the 3rd minute, Arneil Muncaster hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Phil Dorrell had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 5th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Howie Maciver did some fancy footwork in front of goal and succeeded to deceive the defenders so he could slam the ball in 1-0 to the left of a surprised Duncan Alcock 9 minutes into the match. In the 11th minute, Arneil Muncaster hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Archie Millar stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of John Leyden's shot from short distance in the 15th minute. Archie Millar showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Benny Veitch, who was totally free with the ball in the 18th minute. Duncan Alcock made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Howie Maciver in the 21st minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in Ootha's zone, Phil Dorrell stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Duncan Alcock came out of the goal and Phil Dorrell tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. A collision led to Ootha getting a freekick after 23 minutes play. Paz Howard hit a great ball. The crowd rose to their feet as Merriton's Howie Maciver slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Duncan Alcock. That made the score 2-0 after 26 minutes of play. The supporters of Merriton booed when Ootha was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 31 match minutes in a wonderful position. Bryson Howard didn't get a good kick on the ball. The referee gave Merriton a penalty, 37 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Otto Gwin, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Ootha's Duncan Alcock. 3-0. Howie Maciver in the 39thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Duncan Alcock, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Howie Maciver's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Duncan Alcock read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 45th minute of play. Howie Maciver received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 48th minute. Duncan Alcock tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 3-0 at half-time.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. John Leyden was the one to do the kick off. Duncan Alcock took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Howie Maciver, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 59th match minute, Ootha was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Paz Howard to maneuver through the defense. Duncan Alcock made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Howie Maciver in the 61st minute of play. After a rather tough play, Ootha's Murphey Christini got a free kick in the 62nd minute. Howie Maciver fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 63rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Duncan Alcock having to interfere. Howie Maciver scored 4-0 in the 67th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Duncan Alcock, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. If Howie Maciver had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 72nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 75th minute, Benny Coburn hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. When Howie Maciver came up free with the goalie in the 78th minute, the Merriton 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 Howie Maciver couldn't finish the play. When Phil Dorrell came up free with the goalie in the 84th minute, the Merriton 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 Phil Dorrell couldn't finish the play. Ootha's Duncan Alcock played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Howie Maciver in the 85th minute of play. In the 89th minute, Phil Dorrell 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. Howie Maciver fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 91st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Duncan Alcock having to interfere. When the match had gone on for 93 minutes, Phil Dorrell put it in 5-0 from a short distance just to the right of Duncan Alcock. There was no doubt that Merriton were the better team. Merriton's players enjoyed the ovations of the crowd after the victory.