League Play-Off

Hijlaard Stadion
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Hijlaard V.V.'s Nicolae Balotă 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. After a rather tough play, Hijlaard V.V.'s Remco Arnolds got a free kick in the 3rd minute. Jan Sligter struck a weak shot in the 4th minute. Coos van der Gun didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Doetinchem Excelsior. In the 7th match minute, Doetinchem Excelsior was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Theo Schimmel to maneuver through the defense. The crowd rose to their feet as Nicolae Balotă kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving David Pilage. That made the score 1-0 in the 8 minute of play. When Theo Schimmel fell near the penalty area in the 12th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Doetinchem Excelsior's protests and gave Theo Schimmel a yellow card for diving instead. Theo Schimmel kicked well hit freekick during the 12th minute of the match. Jan-Peter van den Hoogen received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 15th minute. Coos van der Gun tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The supporters of Hijlaard V.V. booed when Doetinchem Excelsior was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 18 match minutes in a wonderful position. Lennart Gerseke didn't get a good kick on the ball. Franck Penders's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but David Pilage read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 25th minute of play. David Pilage took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nicolae Balotă, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Jan-Peter van den Hoogen received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 34th minute. Coos van der Gun tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 36 minutes into the match, Hijlaard V.V.'s goal looked a bit too open when Jan-Peter van den Hoogen came free, but Coos van der Gun reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Coos van der Gun showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jan Sligter, who was totally free with the ball in the 37th minute. Doetinchem Excelsior's Jan-Peter van den Hoogen got a good chance for a goal in the 43rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. A collision led to Doetinchem Excelsior getting a freekick after 45 minutes play. Jan-Peter van den Hoogen hit a great ball. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

Jan Sligter fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 58th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Coos van der Gun having to interfere. Jan Sligter fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 60th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Coos van der Gun having to interfere. Doetinchem Excelsior's Jan Sligter got a good chance for a goal in the 63rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. When Jan-Peter van den Hoogen came up free with the goalie in the 66th minute, the Doetinchem Excelsior 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 Jan-Peter van den Hoogen couldn't finish the play. When Theo Schimmel was, once again, overly rough in his play he received his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. 76 minutes had been played. When Nicolae Balotă fell near the penalty area in the 83rd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Hijlaard V.V.'s protests and gave Nicolae Balotă a yellow card for diving instead. In the 85th minute, Nicolae Balotă 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 defensive mix-up in Hijlaard V.V.'s zone, Gerben Neeskens stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Coos van der Gun came out of the goal and Gerben Neeskens tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. With a little luck, Hijlaard V.V.'s Coos van der Gun got control of the ball when Jan Sligter tried to sneak it across the goal line. Gerben Neeskens fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 91st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Coos van der Gun having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in Doetinchem Excelsior's zone, Nicolae Balotă stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. David Pilage came out of the goal and Nicolae Balotă tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The Hijlaard V.V. support was delighted with a win in a match that could easily have ended differently.