League Play-Off

Dolton Stadium
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Holmer Green's Cody Gray 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. When Timothy Baldwin came up free with the goalie in the 4th minute, the Dolton 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 Timothy Baldwin couldn't finish the play. After 6 played minutes Holmer Green got a freekick which was hit by Austen Kaye. The crowd rose to their feet as Dolton's Steven Townsend slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Rex Benbow. That made the score 1-0 after 10 minutes of play. If Calum Lynam had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 16th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Austen Kaye fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 18th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Franz Milner having to interfere. Franz Milner showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cody Gray in the 20th minute of the match. 21 minutes into the match, Holmer Green's goalkeeper Rex Benbow had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Timothy Baldwin. In the 30thth minute of the game Cody Gray who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Dolton's Franz Milner was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Timothy Baldwin came free with the goalkeeper in the 33rd minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Rex Benbow could save by the left post. The audience was convinced that Cody Gray's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Franz Milner was relentless in the 42nd minute of the game. In the 46th minute, Austen Kaye hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Timothy Baldwin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 48th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Steven Townsend to make the kick off. Holmer Green's Rex Benbow played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Timothy Baldwin in the 53rd minute of play. After 55 played minutes Holmer Green got a freekick which was hit by Cody Gray. In the 60th minute, Steven Townsend made a precise shot to the right of Rex Benbow. Holmer Green's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-0. Rex Benbow took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Steven Townsend, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Timothy Baldwin fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 66th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rex Benbow having to interfere. Graeme Bostock took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 69th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Rex Benbow. Holmer Green's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Calum Lynams short, quick shot in the 71stth minute got Franz Milner to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. In the 77thth minute of the game Timothy Baldwin who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Holmer Green's Rex Benbow was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Timothy Baldwin sent away a hard shot on goal in the 80th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Calum Lynam recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 84th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Cody Gray fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 86th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Franz Milner having to interfere. Rex Benbow took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Timothy Baldwin, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Steven Townsend in the 92nd minute of play forced Holmer Green's goalkeeper Rex Benbow to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a rather tough play, Holmer Green's Austen Kaye got a free kick in the 93rd minute. In the 96th minute Dolton were awarded a corner. Graeme Bostock went to the cornerflag to take it. In the 98th minute, Dolton's Duncan Langley seemed to kick out at an opponent. The referee saw this and, surprisingly, showed Duncan Langley the red card, dismissing him from the pitch. The coaching staff of Dolton protested bitterly, but the referee would have none of it, and Duncan Langley had no choice but to slowly walk off the pitch. Franz Milner had in the 100thth minute some difficulties stopping Blair Busby's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. Franz Milner didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Blair Busby went, in the 100th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-1 was the resulting score.