League Play-Off

Croughton
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Taverham's Yaqoub Shalan 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. Bassam Al Holey hit a great freekick 3 minutes into the match. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Naji Al Saffar in the 4th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Rida Al Shati saved Croughton United from getting behind. Yaqoub Shalan blasted a shot towards the goal in the 5th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Rida Al Shati having to make a save. In the 7th minute Yaqoub Shalan shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rida Al Shati saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Naji Al Saffar in the 11th minute of play forced Croughton United's goalkeeper Rida Al Shati to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Croughton United's zone, Yaqoub Shalan stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Rida Al Shati came out of the goal and Yaqoub Shalan tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 18 minutes into the match, Taverham's goalkeeper Nawaf Al Attar had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Bassam Al Holey. In the 19th minute the ball was on its way in behind Croughton United's goalkeeper Rida Al Shati, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After a defensive mix-up in Taverham's zone, Hashem Al Ramzi stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Nawaf Al Attar came out of the goal and Hashem Al Ramzi tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. When Yaqoub Shalan came up free with the goalie in the 28th minute, the Taverham 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 Yaqoub Shalan couldn't finish the play. A collision led to Croughton United getting a freekick after 29 minutes play. Msaed Al Hammady hit a great ball. 34 minutes into the match, Croughton United's goal looked a bit too open when Naji Al Saffar came free, but Rida Al Shati reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 34 minutes, Naji Al Saffar made it 0-1 with a short kick to the right side. Croughton United's Rida Al Shati tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. 38 minutes into the game, Hashem Al Ramzi was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Croughton United's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Taverham the free kick. If Ebrahem Al Sayer had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 43rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 46 minutes into the game, Monther Al Sallal was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Taverham's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Croughton United the free kick. Monther Al Sallal hit a great freekick 47 minutes into the match. Hashem Al Ramzi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 48th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-1 lead.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Hashem Al Ramzi to strike the kick off in the second half. Taverham were awarded a corner in the 66th minute after Croughton United's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Sulaiman Shamsah took the corner. The corner led to Taverham's Seraj Bahroh getting away a dangerous shot that went just outside the goal. The audience thought a goal was coming when Naji Al Saffar got free with Rida Al Shati in the 70th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. When Yaqoub Shalan came up free with the goalie in the 74th minute, the Taverham 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 Yaqoub Shalan couldn't finish the play. Naji Al Saffar's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Rida Al Shati read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 80th minute of play. In the 82nd minute, Yaqoub Shalan reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Rida Al Shati. The goal made the score 0-2. When Yaqoub Shalan came up free with the goalie in the 85th minute, the Taverham 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 Yaqoub Shalan couldn't finish the play. Rida Al Shati made an important save on a dangerous shot by Naji Al Saffar in the 87th minute. Nawaf Al Attar took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Hashem Al Ramzi, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 92 minutes into the match, Taverham's goal looked a bit too open when Ebrahem Al Sayer came free, but Nawaf Al Attar reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Taverham played a much better game than Croughton United and deserved their victory. The Croughton United players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.