League Play-Off

Ellesmere Port
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Candidasa Multani took the kick off in the first half of the match. Kahola Malhan kicked well hit freekick during the 5th minute of the match. 15 minutes into the game, North Petherton's Adelika Patel nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Ekanatha Lyngdoh made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. Bahuvida Aulakh made an important save on a dangerous shot by Jagatkarna Kaila in the 18th minute. Bahuvida Aulakh was a little too slow when Candidasa Multani got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 21st minute. The score was now 1-1. In the 24th minute, Simranjit Ghai hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The supporters of North Petherton booed when Ellesmere Port City was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 26 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ajagara Mallik didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Katti Bhattacharya had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 28th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Adelika Patel fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 35th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ekanatha Lyngdoh having to interfere. If Adelika Patel had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 40th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Ved Bhatia was astounded when the referee showed him the red card after a seemingly innocent challenge, 45 minutes into the match. Antara Maroke shot the penalty kick by force right in the crossbar. No goal.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Katti Bhattacharya to make the kick off. When Livjot Sawhney fell near the penalty area in the 53rd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Ellesmere Port City's protests and gave Livjot Sawhney a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of North Petherton booed when Ellesmere Port City was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 53 match minutes in a wonderful position. Livjot Sawhney didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 55th minute of the match, Aila Tamang sent away a good long shot that could have become a goal, but Ekanatha Lyngdoh showed an example of his skillful tending and made the save just under the crossbar. Ellesmere Port City's Jagatkarna Kaila got a good chance for a goal in the 59th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Bahuvida Aulakh showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Jagatkarna Kaila in the 61st minute of the match. When Ellesmere Port City's Jagatkarna Kaila in the 64th minute got a chance for a shot 64th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye North Petherton's goalie prevented a goal. Jagatkarna Kaila fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 65th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Bahuvida Aulakh having to interfere. Ellesmere Port City's Ajagara Mallik got his second yellow card of the match in the 75th minute. The referee ordered Ajagara Mallik off the ground. North Petherton's Jatinder Krishnan shoveled away a really nice long shot in the 76th minute of play. The shot was stopped by Ekanatha Lyngdoh but with some difficulty. When Katti Bhattacharya came up free with the goalie in the 81st minute, the North Petherton 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 Katti Bhattacharya couldn't finish the play. Ekanatha Lyngdoh made an important save on a dangerous shot by Katti Bhattacharya in the 83rd minute. If Aila Tamang had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 84th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jagatkarna Kaila fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 88th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Bahuvida Aulakh having to interfere. Jagatkarna Kaila fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 93rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Bahuvida Aulakh having to interfere.