League Play-Off

Kirrawee Stadium
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Brockman Heys started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Quade Phillips hit a great freekick 6 minutes into the match. In the 12th minute, Quade Phillips 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. A collision led to Western Sydney Wanderers getting a freekick after 14 minutes play. Bart Andrews hit a great ball. If Jeffray Houldsworth had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 16th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a rather tough play, Merlion Patriots FC's Larkin Mcinnes got a free kick in the 17th minute. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Quade Phillips in the 18th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Bray Malacarne prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 20 minutes into the game, Jeffray Houldsworth cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Barnes Howie was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Jeffray Houldsworth struck a weak shot in the 24th minute. Barnes Howie didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Merlion Patriots FC. 29 minutes into the match, Western Sydney Wanderers's Quade Phillips sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Bray Malacarne narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Jeffray Houldsworth received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 33rd minute. Barnes Howie tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The supporters of Western Sydney Wanderers booed when Merlion Patriots FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 35 match minutes in a wonderful position. Larkin Mcinnes didn't get a good kick on the ball. Bray Malacarne took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Quade Phillips, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The Western Sydney Wanderers players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Merlion Patriots FC were winning 0-1.

The wind increased when Quade Phillips made the kick off in the second half. Jeffray Houldsworth could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 55th minute of the match, but Barnes Howie made a huge save. Merlion Patriots FC's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Tony Thiele in the 57th minute. The corner led Merlion Patriots FC's Tony Thiele to fire away a dangerous shot which Barnes Howie despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Bray Malacarne took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Quade Phillips, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Brockman Heys received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 66th minute. Barnes Howie tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 71 minutes, Bart Andrews mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Western Sydney Wanderers and the Merlion Patriots FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 71st minute, Bart Andrews hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Benedict Wenham sent away a hard shot on goal in the 76th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Jeffray Houldsworth could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 82nd minute of the match, but Barnes Howie made a huge save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Quade Phillips in the 88th minute of play forced Merlion Patriots FC's goalkeeper Bray Malacarne to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With his leg Barnes Howie managed to avoid a goal in the 89thth minute, when Merlion Patriots FC's Jeffray Houldsworth fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. In the 93rd minute Quade Phillips shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Bray Malacarne saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The Merlion Patriots FC supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Merlion Patriots FC would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.