League Play-Off

Culcheth Park
Spectators: 39 (Terracing: 30, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Edward Fountain made an important save on a dangerous shot by Craig Harrison in the 7th minute. An unexpected shot in the 9th minute by Craig Harrison got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. When Garth Castledine came up free with the goalie in the 11th minute, the Culcheth 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 Garth Castledine couldn't finish the play. In the 22nd minute, Curtis Tomkins hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Damion Howard stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Robbie Alderson's shot from short distance in the 23rd minute. Sammy Hardcastle recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 25th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. A collision led to Culcheth getting a freekick after 25 minutes play. Ivor Oldham hit a great ball. In the game's 26th minute Bow's Stuart Scholes took a hard shot from long distance, a kick which went into the net just to the right of Damion Howard and thus the score was 0-1. Brett Fieldwick received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 34th minute. Damion Howard tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Damion Howard took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Robbie Alderson, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Culcheth's Damion Howard played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Robbie Alderson in the 46th minute of play. After the first half Bow were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Garth Castledine stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Garth Castledine fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 55th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Edward Fountain having to interfere. Robbie Alderson received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 59th minute. Damion Howard tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Robbie Alderson's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Damion Howard read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 63rd minute of play. Louie Basham's late challenge caught a Bow's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Louie Basham helped the player get up and apologised. In the 64th match minute, Culcheth was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Louie Basham to maneuver through the defense. The audience thought a goal was coming when Sammy Hardcastle got free with Damion Howard in the 73rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Robbie Alderson sent away a hard shot on goal in the 74th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a rather tough play, Bow's Sammy Hardcastle got a free kick in the 75th minute. The supporters of Culcheth booed when Bow was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 78 match minutes in a wonderful position. Joseph Button didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Sammy Hardcastle had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 88th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Robbie Alderson in the 91st minute of play forced Culcheth's goalkeeper Damion Howard to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a little luck, Culcheth's Damion Howard got control of the ball when Sammy Hardcastle tried to sneak it across the goal line. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Bow eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.