League Play-Off

Thorne Park
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Derar Al Hadad took the kick off in the first half of the match. In the 5th minute, Mansour Al Fadhalah left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Birmingham Selly Oak fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. Awwad Al Najdi made an important save on a dangerous shot by Seraj Al Holey in the 8th minute. Thorne's Haider Sarkhoh played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mansour Al Fadhalah in the 10th minute of play. 14 minutes into the game, Saleh Al Motar recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Awwad Al Najdi. Saleh Al Motar showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-1. A collision led to Birmingham Selly Oak getting a freekick after 17 minutes play. Fawzy Al Baghli hit a great ball. Awwad Al Najdi took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Derar Al Hadad, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The supporters of Birmingham Selly Oak booed when Thorne was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 21 match minutes in a wonderful position. Gibrel Boften didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Mansour Al Fadhalah fell near the penalty area in the 22nd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Birmingham Selly Oak's protests and gave Mansour Al Fadhalah a yellow card for diving instead. A collision led to Birmingham Selly Oak getting a freekick after 22 minutes play. Mansour Al Fadhalah hit a great ball. In the 25th minute Derar Al Hadad shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Awwad Al Najdi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. With a little luck, Birmingham Selly Oak's Awwad Al Najdi got control of the ball when Seraj Al Holey tried to sneak it across the goal line. When Thorne's Gibrel Boften in the 47th minute got a chance for a shot 47th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Birmingham Selly Oak's goalie prevented a goal.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Mansour Al Fadhalah stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After a defensive mix-up in Thorne's zone, Ameer Boland stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Haider Sarkhoh came out of the goal and Ameer Boland tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Mansour Al Fadhalah fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 55th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Haider Sarkhoh having to interfere. Thorne's goalkeeper couldn't reach when Mansour Al Fadhalah 60 minutes into the game got a good kick on the ball which found its way into goal just inside left pole. 2-2. Ameer Boland fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 64th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Haider Sarkhoh having to interfere. Hamzah Abol's late challenge caught a Thorne's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Hamzah Abol helped the player get up and apologised. In a very dangerous position, a player in Birmingham Selly Oak fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 66th minute. Penalty! In the 69th minute there was a penalty for Thorne. Abdul Rahman Ghadhanfer stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Awwad Al Najdi. 3-2. Mansour Al Fadhalah received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 72nd minute. Haider Sarkhoh tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Hakem Al Qattan hit a great freekick 76 minutes into the match. After some careless play in the Birmingham Selly Oak defense, Seraj Al Holey kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Awwad Al Najdi. The Birmingham Selly Oak fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Awwad Al Najdi should have stopped the shot. Seraj Al Holey fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 85th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Awwad Al Najdi having to interfere. 88 minutes into the match, Thorne's goal looked a bit too open when Mansour Al Fadhalah came free, but Haider Sarkhoh reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 89th minute, Ameer Boland managed to get in a good position for a shot. Birmingham Selly Oak's supporters rose to their feet, but Ameer Boland was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Haider Sarkhoh breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Mansour Al Fadhalah sent away a hard shot on goal in the 92nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 95 minutes into the match, Birmingham Selly Oak's goal looked a bit too open when Derar Al Hadad came free, but Awwad Al Najdi reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Mamon Al Hadhod during the 96th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. A collision led to Birmingham Selly Oak getting a freekick after 96 minutes play. Mamon Al Hadhod hit a great ball. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Thorne had won after a very even match.