League Play-Off

Hereford Park
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Derar Al Banai made the kick off which started today's match. If Sajid Al Mulaifi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 3rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Abdelnaser Bo Shehri could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 7th minute of the match, but Saleh Al Mofede made a huge save. Spalding AFC's Saleh Al Mofede proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 8th minute of the match, managed to save Spalding AFC from getting a goal against them. Edrees Ashkanani showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Derar Al Banai, who was totally free with the ball in the 17th minute. 20 minutes into the match, Hereford's Ghasan Mandane sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Saleh Al Mofede narrowly saved just below the crossbar. When Barakat Shams fell near the penalty area in the 22nd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Spalding AFC's protests and gave Barakat Shams a yellow card for diving instead. Ghasan Mandane recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 23rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Ghasan Mandane who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 25thth minute tested the skills of Saleh Al Mofede when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Raed Al Dabos hit a great freekick 26 minutes into the match. In the 27th minute, Ghasan Mandane 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. Jaffer Kamal recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 29th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 31 minutes into the game, Hereford's Ghasan Mandane nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Saleh Al Mofede made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0. Ghasan Mandane's late challenge caught a Spalding AFC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Ghasan Mandane helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Spalding AFC booed when Hereford was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 34 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ghasan Mandane didn't get a good kick on the ball. Abdelnaser Bo Shehri fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 37th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Saleh Al Mofede having to interfere. Saleh Al Mofede stood somewhat misplaced when Ghasan Mandane came free in front of goal and shot 2-0 to the left of him in the 42 minute. Af the end of the first half the score was 2-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Ghasan Mandane stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After some careless play in the Spalding AFC defense, Ghasan Mandane kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Saleh Al Mofede. The Spalding AFC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Saleh Al Mofede should have stopped the shot. Abdelnaser Bo Shehri sent away a hard shot on goal in the 55th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Derar Al Banai hit a great freekick 57 minutes into the match. Saleh Al Mofede took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Abdelnaser Bo Shehri, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 67 minutes into the match, Hereford's goal looked a bit too open when Derar Al Banai came free, but Edrees Ashkanani reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Spalding AFC's Saleh Al Mofede played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Abdelnaser Bo Shehri in the 68th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Abdelnaser Bo Shehri in the 69th minute of play forced Spalding AFC's goalkeeper Saleh Al Mofede to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a rather tough play, Spalding AFC's Raed Al Dabos got a free kick in the 70th minute. If Abdelnaser Bo Shehri had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 72nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Edrees Ashkanani made an important save on a dangerous shot by Sajid Al Mulaifi in the 77th minute. When Hussain Al Sayer fell near the penalty area in the 81st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Spalding AFC's protests and gave Hussain Al Sayer a yellow card for diving instead. Hussain Al Sayer hit a great freekick 81 minutes into the match. After 83 played minutes Spalding AFC got a freekick which was hit by Hamzah Al Mothaf. Aadil Sarkhoh was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 84th played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. Spalding AFC's Saleh Al Mofede played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ghasan Mandane in the 89th minute of play. Ghasan Mandane sent away a hard shot on goal in the 90th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 92 minutes of play, Hereford's Ghasan Mandane made it 4-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Saleh Al Mofede was left in no man's land by his defense there! For all the effort they put into the match, the Spalding AFC players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Hereford.