League Play-Off

Openshaw Stadium
Spectators: 38 (Terracing: 29, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Sammy Short took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Freddy Chilton, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Adam Edmonton showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jeff Pickard, who was totally free with the ball in the 9th minute. Sammy Short took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Matthew Welsh, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Jeff Pickard had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 16th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Nicholas Cole fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 25th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Adam Edmonton having to interfere. Freddy Chilton received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 30th minute. Sammy Short tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Freddy Chilton had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 32nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Sammy Short made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Matthew Welsh in the 33rd minute of play. Freddy Chilton sent away a hard shot on goal in the 36th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Nicholas Cole's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Adam Edmonton read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 48th minute of play. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Jeff Pickard to make the kick off. Adam Edmonton showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Jeff Pickard in the 52nd minute of the match. When Nicholas Cole came up free with the goalie in the 53rd minute, the Openshaw 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 Nicholas Cole couldn't finish the play. If Jeff Pickard had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 55th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Openshaw's Sammy Short proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 59th minute of the match, managed to save Openshaw from getting a goal against them. Freddy Chilton sent away a hard shot on goal in the 60th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Freddy Chilton had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 62nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jeff Pickard blasted a shot towards the goal in the 65th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Adam Edmonton having to make a save. Simon Boyd hit a great freekick 66 minutes into the match. Hampstead's Adam Edmonton played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jeff Pickard in the 67th minute of play. In the 70thth minute of the game Jeff Pickard who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Hampstead's Adam Edmonton was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Matthew Welsh struck a weak shot in the 71st minute. Sammy Short didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Hampstead. The audience was convinced that Nicholas Cole's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Adam Edmonton was relentless in the 74th minute of the game. Adam Edmonton showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Jeff Pickard in the 84th minute of the match. 85 minutes into the match, Hampstead's goal looked a bit too open when Nicholas Cole came free, but Adam Edmonton reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Nicholas Cole might have been able to make a better finish in the 91st minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Adam Edmonton. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Nicholas Cole ran back to his position shaking his head. After 93 played minutes, Openshaw's Kelvin Hopgood shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Adam Edmonton came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Openshaw reached it. Adam Edmonton took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Jeff Pickard, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The Hampstead players were the happier at the end of the match as they had prevented Openshaw from taking control. The game ends in a draw.