League Play-Off

Stade Gardanne
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Salim Lacaille started the match with the kick off. Salim Lacaille received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 3rd minute. Jean-Michel Janin tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Joseph Krebs blasted a shot towards the goal in the 4th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Jean-Michel Janin having to make a save. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Salim Lacaille in the 6th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Jean-Michel Janin saved Mirail from getting behind. After some fancy dribbling in the 12th minute, Salim Lacaille managed to get in a good position for a shot. Gardanne's supporters rose to their feet, but Salim Lacaille was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Jean-Michel Janin breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. With a little luck, Mirail's Jean-Michel Janin got control of the ball when Joseph Krebs tried to sneak it across the goal line. Emmanuel Ducourneau might have been able to make a better finish in the 16th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Paulo Fougeres. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Emmanuel Ducourneau ran back to his position shaking his head. Antony Courtel blasted a shot towards the goal in the 17th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Paulo Fougeres having to make a save. Paulo Fougeres showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Antony Courtel in the 18th minute of the match. After a defensive mix-up in Mirail's zone, Joseph Krebs stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Jean-Michel Janin came out of the goal and Joseph Krebs tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Geoffrey Frechou kicked well hit freekick during the 22nd minute of the match. Joseph Krebs received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 23rd minute. Jean-Michel Janin tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Salim Lacaille got in the 25th a clear chance and fired away a hard shot against goal, but Jean-Michel Janin handled the situation perfectly and made a save by the crossbar. In the 32nd match minute, Gardanne was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jordy Boucheron to maneuver through the defense. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Emmanuel Ducourneau in the 36th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Paulo Fougeres prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Paulo Fougeres showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Emmanuel Ducourneau in the 38th minute of the match. When Joseph Krebs came up free with the goalie in the 40th minute, the Gardanne 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 Joseph Krebs couldn't finish the play. Jean-Michel Janin made an important save on a dangerous shot by Joseph Krebs in the 46th minute. In the 47th match minute, Mirail was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Geoffrey Frechou to maneuver through the defense. Joseph Krebs could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 48th minute of the match, but Jean-Michel Janin made a huge save. 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.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Emmanuel Ducourneau to make the kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joseph Krebs in the 54th minute of play forced Mirail's goalkeeper Jean-Michel Janin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Salim Lacaille received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 58th minute. Jean-Michel Janin tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The supporters of Gardanne booed when Mirail was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 59 match minutes in a wonderful position. Patrice Normand didn't get a good kick on the ball. Jean-Michel Janin stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Salim Lacaille's shot from short distance in the 62nd minute. 65 minutes into the match, Mirail's Emmanuel Ducourneau sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Paulo Fougeres narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After some fancy dribbling in the 81st minute, Emmanuel Ducourneau managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mirail's supporters rose to their feet, but Emmanuel Ducourneau was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Paulo Fougeres breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Antony Courtel blasted a shot towards the goal in the 83rd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Paulo Fougeres having to make a save. 84 minutes into the match, Gardanne's goal looked a bit too open when Emmanuel Ducourneau came free, but Paulo Fougeres reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 88 played minutes Mirail got a freekick which was hit by Geoffrey Frechou. When Salim Lacaille came up free with the goalie in the 91st minute, the Gardanne 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 Salim Lacaille couldn't finish the play. Antony Courtel recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 95th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. The teams fought very hard right up to the final whistle. Both sets of players were happy to go away with a draw.