League Play-Off

Elkenraad
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Ferdinant Toolenaar started the match with the kick off. 4 minutes into the game, Klaas Jan Harmens recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Joep Luirink. Klaas Jan Harmens showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-0. In the 10th minute the ball was on its way in behind Smal's goalkeeper Joep Luirink, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. When Kevin Plaggenborg came up free with the goalie in the 13th minute, the Smal 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 Kevin Plaggenborg couldn't finish the play. In the 14th minute, one of Elkenraad:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Elkenraad. Theo Jansen shot the penalty kick by force right in the crossbar. No goal. Ferdinant Toolenaar scored 1-1 in the 19th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Reinier van Bronckhorst, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. After a defensive mix-up in Smal's zone, Serge Plagge stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Joep Luirink came out of the goal and Serge Plagge tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After 29 played minutes Smal got a freekick which was hit by Emile Schalkwijk. After a defensive mix-up in Elkenraad's zone, Ferdinant Toolenaar stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Reinier van Bronckhorst came out of the goal and Ferdinant Toolenaar tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 39th minute, Jelle Kuypers managed to get in a good position for a shot. Elkenraad's supporters rose to their feet, but Jelle Kuypers was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Joep Luirink breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Serge Plagge sent away a hard shot on goal in the 40th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 42nd minute Serge Plagge shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Joep Luirink saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Serge Plagge fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 46th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Joep Luirink having to interfere. In the 47th minute, Jelle Kuypers got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Serge Plagge was the one to do the kick off. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Serge Plagge in the 58th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Joep Luirink prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Kevin Plaggenborg blasted a shot towards the goal in the 59th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Reinier van Bronckhorst having to make a save. Joep Luirink showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Serge Plagge in the 67th minute of the match. After a rather tough play, Elkenraad's Lucien de Vlieger got a free kick in the 72nd minute. The long shot by Lukas Ritsma in the 73rd minute really tested Reinier van Bronckhorst's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal. When Elkenraad's Serge Plagge in the 81st minute got a chance for a shot 81st didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Smal's goalie prevented a goal. Reinier van Bronckhorst made a fantastic save in the 82nd minute, when Kevin Plaggenborg sent off a good shot on target. When Jelle Kuypers came up free with the goalie in the 84th minute, the Elkenraad 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 Jelle Kuypers couldn't finish the play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Kevin Plaggenborg got free with Reinier van Bronckhorst in the 91st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Serge Plagge sent away a hard shot on goal in the 93rd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. After having played for 96 minutes, Jelle Kuypers managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Elkenraad's supporters crossed their fingers, but Jelle Kuypers was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Elkenraad were clearly unhappy with the draw, as they felt they had done enough to earn themselves a victory.