League Play-Off

Brentwood Stadium
Spectators: 38 (Terracing: 29, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Brentwood's Gyaneshwar Basu started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Antariksa Malhotra took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Anand Rana, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 3 played minutes Brentwood got a freekick which was hit by Beanta Liansailova. In the 4th minute the ball was on its way in behind Brentwood's goalkeeper Antariksa Malhotra, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ancala Thakkar in the 6th minute of play forced Brentwood's goalkeeper Antariksa Malhotra to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Antariksa Malhotra made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Anand Rana in the 7th minute of play. If Cidvilasini Japra 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 20 minutes of play, Runcorn United's Ancala Thakkar made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Antariksa Malhotra was left in no man's land by his defense there! In the 25th minute, Ketubha Ganguly hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After some fancy dribbling in the 30th minute, Aila Pradhan managed to get in a good position for a shot. Runcorn United's supporters rose to their feet, but Aila Pradhan was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Antariksa Malhotra breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. When Aila Pradhan came up free with the goalie in the 36th minute, the Runcorn United 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 Aila Pradhan couldn't finish the play. If Ashe Mahalingappa had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 39th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Ashe Mahalingappa came up free with the goalie in the 48th minute, the Brentwood 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 Ashe Mahalingappa couldn't finish the play. After the first half Runcorn United were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Anand Rana was the one to do the kick off. 53 minutes into the match, Brentwood's goal looked a bit too open when Anand Rana came free, but Antariksa Malhotra reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ashe Mahalingappa fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 55th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Go Sehgal having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in Runcorn United's zone, Gyaneshwar Basu stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Go Sehgal came out of the goal and Gyaneshwar Basu tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 62 minutes into the game, Ashe Mahalingappa cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-1. Go Sehgal was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Antariksa Malhotra showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Anand Rana, who was totally free with the ball in the 65th minute. Brentwood's Ashe Mahalingappa got a good chance for a goal in the 66th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Ashe Mahalingappa might have been able to make a better finish in the 69th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Go Sehgal. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Ashe Mahalingappa ran back to his position shaking his head. Ashe Mahalingappa received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 70th minute. Go Sehgal tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gyaneshwar Basu in the 74th minute of play forced Runcorn United's goalkeeper Go Sehgal to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Go Sehgal made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gyaneshwar Basu in the 76th minute of play. Gyaneshwar Basu sent away a hard shot on goal in the 80th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Brentwood's Ashe Mahalingappa got a good chance for a goal in the 81st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After having played for 90 minutes, Ancala Thakkar managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Runcorn United's supporters crossed their fingers, but Ancala Thakkar was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The second half was just like the first, even and exciting. The match ended in a draw.