League Play-Off

Sittingbourne Park
Spectators: 39 (Terracing: 30, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Dominic Johnstone started the match with the kick off. Antony Ryder made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Danny Clay in the 4th minute of play. Greg Watkinson blasted a shot towards the goal in the 5th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Hayden Mulford having to make a save. Lenny Phippard's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Antony Ryder read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 9th minute of play. Johnnie Goodall's late challenge caught a Alton AFC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Johnnie Goodall helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to Sittingbourne City getting a freekick after 10 minutes play. Johnnie Goodall hit a great ball. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Russ Law during the 11th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Russ Law kicked well hit freekick during the 11th minute of the match. Dominic Johnstone sent away a hard shot on goal in the 19th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Danny Clay in the 22nd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Antony Ryder prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Tristan Clegg charged in rather forcefully in the 33rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Tristan Clegg the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 33 played minutes Alton AFC got a freekick which was hit by Tristan Clegg. Dominic Johnstone succeeded in the game's 36th minute to shoot an unreachable shot under the crossbar and scored - 1-0. In the 42nd minute Dominic Johnstone shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Hayden Mulford saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 1-0 at half-time.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Danny Clay to strike the kick off in the second half. When Lenny Phippard came up free with the goalie in the 54th minute, the Alton AFC 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 Lenny Phippard couldn't finish the play. After a defensive mix-up in Sittingbourne City's zone, Lenny Phippard stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Antony Ryder came out of the goal and Lenny Phippard tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Lenny Phippard fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 59th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Antony Ryder having to interfere. After 60 minutes, Ethan Shaw mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Sittingbourne City and the Alton AFC players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of Alton AFC booed when Sittingbourne City was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 60 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ethan Shaw didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Lenny Phippard had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 62nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Danny Clay sent away a hard shot on goal in the 64th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Lenny Phippard had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 71st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Antony Ryder made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Danny Clay in the 76th minute of play. Alton AFC's Tristan Clegg pulled a muscle in his back after 77 minutes and couldn't finish the game. Johnnie Goodall was shown his second yellow card after 77 minutes, following a rather ugly tackle on opponent. That was the end of his participation in the match. Johnnie Goodall hit a great freekick 78 minutes into the match. 83 minutes into the match, Alton AFC's Lenny Phippard sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Antony Ryder narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Lenny Phippard received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 94th minute. Antony Ryder tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The Sittingbourne City fans cheered their team off the field, for while Alton AFC had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.