League Play-Off

Birmingham Selly Oak
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Hereford's Ghasan Mandane 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. Birmingham Selly Oak AFC's Hamdan Al Srae played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ghasan Mandane in the 5th minute of play. Ghasan Mandane struck a weak shot in the 9th minute. Hamdan Al Srae didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Hereford. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Ghasan Mandane in the 11th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Hamdan Al Srae saved Birmingham Selly Oak AFC from getting behind. Ghasan Mandane received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 13th minute. Hamdan Al Srae tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After having played for 15 minutes, Mahmoud Al Mothaf managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Birmingham Selly Oak AFC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Mahmoud Al Mothaf was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Mahmoud Al Mothaf could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 18th minute of the match, but Edrees Ashkanani made a huge save. Mubarek Shadad fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 21st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Edrees Ashkanani having to interfere. In the 22nd minute, Rashed Al Gareb hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 25 played minutes Hereford got a freekick which was hit by Jaffer Kamal. After recieving a nice pass, Birmingham Selly Oak AFC's Msaed Al Jarah tried to score from far away in the 26th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. In the 28th minute, Abdelnaser Bo Shehri made a precise shot to the right of Hamdan Al Srae. Birmingham Selly Oak AFC's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-1. Hereford's Abdelnaser Bo Shehri got a good chance for a goal in the 38th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. When Mubarek Shadad in the 40th play minute got the chance to kick a hard shot on goal from short distance neither the defense or Edrees Ashkanani kept up with the ball and suddenly the score was 1-1 when the ball slipped into goal inside the left pole. Edrees Ashkanani made an important save on a dangerous shot by Mahmoud Al Mothaf in the 48th minute. The score stood at 1-1 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Mubarek Shadad to make the kick off. In the 56th 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. With a little luck, Birmingham Selly Oak AFC's Hamdan Al Srae got control of the ball when Abdelnaser Bo Shehri tried to sneak it across the goal line. After 61 minutes, Khalefa Taqi mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Birmingham Selly Oak AFC and the Hereford players grew even worse after the yellow card. Khalefa Taqi kicked well hit freekick during the 62nd minute of the match. Ghasan Mandane received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 63rd minute. Hamdan Al Srae tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 67 minutes into the match, Birmingham Selly Oak AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Ghasan Mandane came free, but Hamdan Al Srae reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ghasan Mandane received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 68th minute. Hamdan Al Srae tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Abdelnaser Bo Shehri received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 71st minute. Hamdan Al Srae tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Rashed Al Gareb fell near the penalty area in the 75th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Birmingham Selly Oak AFC's protests and gave Rashed Al Gareb a yellow card for diving instead. With a little luck, Birmingham Selly Oak AFC's Hamdan Al Srae got control of the ball when Abdelnaser Bo Shehri tried to sneak it across the goal line. A collision led to Birmingham Selly Oak AFC getting a freekick after 77 minutes play. Khalefa Taqi hit a great ball. In the 79th minute, Hereford's Ghasan Mandane ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Hamdan Al Srae. Hamdan Al Srae yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-2. Edrees Ashkanani showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Mubarek Shadad in the 84th minute of the match. In the 85th match minute, Birmingham Selly Oak AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Rashed Al Gareb to maneuver through the defense. If Ghasan Mandane had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 86th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 88th minute, Aadil Al Ammar hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Edrees Ashkanani showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Mahmoud Al Mothaf, who was totally free with the ball in the 90th minute. Aadil Al Ammar received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Hamdan Al Srae came out and tried to block the shot, but Aadil Al Ammar slotted it home off the left post making it 1-3 in the 97th minute. Hereford played a much better game than Birmingham Selly Oak AFC and deserved their victory. The Birmingham Selly Oak AFC players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.