League Play-Off

Stade Herlies
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Californie's Arnaud Rolando 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Roger Giraudeau in the 5th minute of play forced Herlies's goalkeeper Salomon Laplagne to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Arnaud Rolando received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 6th minute. Salomon Laplagne tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A collision led to Californie getting a freekick after 10 minutes play. Leopold Jullian hit a great ball. If Arnaud Rolando had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 17th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Roger Giraudeau fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 18th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Salomon Laplagne having to interfere. Marc Santucci made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Frederic Dubroca in the 28th minute of play. In the 30th minute Frederic Dubroca shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Marc Santucci saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Herlies's Pierrick Chalvet got a good chance for a goal in the 35th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Junior Bringuier hit a great freekick 36 minutes into the match. Pierrick Chalvet sent away a hard shot on goal in the 39th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a defensive mix-up in Herlies's zone, Roger Giraudeau stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Salomon Laplagne came out of the goal and Roger Giraudeau tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Salomon Laplagne took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Arnaud Rolando, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Arnaud Rolando received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 48th minute. Salomon Laplagne tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Frederic Dubroca stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Herlies's Salomon Laplagne proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 53rd minute of the match, managed to save Herlies from getting a goal against them. After a rather tough play, Californie's Junior Bringuier got a free kick in the 55th minute. Roger Giraudeau blasted a shot towards the goal in the 59th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Salomon Laplagne having to make a save. When Arnaud Rolando, who was free, got the in front of the goal in the 60 minute he wasn't focused and tipped the ball just over the goal. The Salomon Laplagne was delighted since the ball would have got in if it had gone under the crossbar. In the 62nd minute of the match, Arnaud Rolando tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Salomon Laplagne saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. If Roger Giraudeau had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 66th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Marc Santucci made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Frederic Dubroca in the 70th minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Franklin Cornier in the 74th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Marc Santucci saved Californie from getting behind. Roger Giraudeau fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 79th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Salomon Laplagne having to interfere. Californie's Marc Santucci played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Pierrick Chalvet in the 83rd minute of play. In the 84th match minute, Californie was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Steven Bayle to maneuver through the defense. Frederic Dubroca struck a weak shot in the 86th minute. Marc Santucci didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Herlies. Californie's Marc Santucci played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Pierrick Chalvet in the 88th minute of play. In the 90th minute, Frederic Dubroca ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Marc Santucci was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-0. Marc Santucci showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Pierrick Chalvet, who was totally free with the ball in the 98th minute. For all the effort they put into the match, the Californie players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Herlies.