League Play-Off

Craailo Stadion
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Pepijn van Zwam took the kick off in the first half of the match. Anton Ritsma made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Pepijn van Zwam in the 3rd minute of play. Pieter-Jan Smits sent away a hard shot on goal in the 8th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Mathijs Veenker had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 9th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Anton Ritsma showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Pepijn van Zwam in the 12th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Pieter-Jan Smits in the 14th minute of play forced Elburg's goalkeeper Adriaan Bender to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 15th minute Pieter-Jan Smits shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Adriaan Bender saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 16th minute, Pepijn van Zwam left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Elburg fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. Adriaan Bender didn't succeed in stopping the ball in the 23rd minute, which inside left pole to 1-1. Pepijn van Zwam received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 26th minute. Anton Ritsma tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After some careless play in the Craailo HC defense, Dave Salens kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Anton Ritsma. The Craailo HC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Anton Ritsma should have stopped the shot. Craailo HC's Mathijs Veenker got a good chance for a goal in the 32nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Adriaan Bender showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Pieter-Jan Smits in the 33rd minute of the match. Mathijs Veenker struck a weak shot in the 34th minute. Adriaan Bender didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Craailo HC. Adriaan Bender took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Pieter-Jan Smits, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Mathijs Veenker had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 40th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. The supporters of Craailo HC booed when Elburg was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 41 match minutes in a wonderful position. Jan-Willem Ottens didn't get a good kick on the ball. Craailo HC's Wim Achterberg was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Adriaan Bender in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. In the 46th match minute, Elburg was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jan-Willem Ottens to maneuver through the defense. After the first half Elburg were leading 1-2. 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 Pieter-Jan Smits stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. In the 55th minute Mathijs Veenker shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Adriaan Bender saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 64th minute Pepijn van Zwam shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Anton Ritsma saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Anton Ritsma was a little too slow when Pepijn van Zwam got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 66th minute. The score was now 1-3. Adriaan Bender made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from René Ebbinge in the 70th minute of play. 72 minutes into the match, Craailo HC's goalkeeper Anton Ritsma had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Dave Salens. After 73 minutes, Pieter-Jan Smits made it 2-3 with a short kick to the right side. Elburg's Adriaan Bender tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. The supporters of Craailo HC booed when Elburg was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 76 match minutes in a wonderful position. Jan-Willem Ottens didn't get a good kick on the ball. When the match clock showed 79 minutes, the score became 3-3 when Mathijs Veenker sped through Elburg's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Adriaan Bender. In the 84th minute, Mathijs Veenker ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Adriaan Bender was frozen by the shot and now it was 4-3. If Pepijn van Zwam had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 90th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Denny Sanders sent away a hard shot on goal in the 94th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Elburg's Adriaan Bender played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Pieter-Jan Smits in the 96th minute of play. It was no surprise that this one had ended in a win for the home team. Craailo HC had played much better football throughout.