League Play-Off

Vitå Stadion
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. Petter Löv started the match with the kick off. Douglas Westerberg kicked well hit freekick during the 2nd minute of the match. A collision led to Vitå getting a freekick after 3 minutes play. Håkan Rolfsson hit a great ball. When the match clock showed 4 minutes, the score became 0-1 when Petter Löv sped through Vitå's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Edvard Springfält. Benson and Hedges's Allan Holmgren played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Håkan Rolfsson in the 13th minute of play. Edvard Springfält showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gaizka Mendieta in the 19th minute of the match. In the 21st minute Håkan Rolfsson shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Allan Holmgren saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. With a little luck, Benson and Hedges's Allan Holmgren got control of the ball when Patrik Jonsson tried to sneak it across the goal line. A collision led to Benson and Hedges getting a freekick after 22 minutes play. Pelle King hit a great ball. 26 minutes into the match, Petter Löv notched a goal, 0-2, to the right of Vitå's Edvard Springfält. Edvard Springfält was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Edvard Springfält took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Petter Löv, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Magnus Påk charged in rather forcefully in the 38th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Magnus Påk the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 38 played minutes Vitå got a freekick which was hit by Magnus Påk. Petter Löv fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 41st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Edvard Springfält having to interfere. The audience thought a goal was coming when Patrik Jonsson got free with Allan Holmgren in the 43rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After 45 played minutes Håkan Rolfsson rounded Benson and Hedges's defense and shot a beautiful shot into goal via left pole - 1-2. After the first half Benson and Hedges were leading 1-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Håkan Rolfsson to make the kick off. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Petter Löv in the 52nd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Edvard Springfält prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Edvard Springfält took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Petter Löv, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Edvard Springfält made a fantastic save in the 54th minute, when J.P. Gonzales sent off a good shot on target. Oskar Mogren was astounded when the referee showed him the red card after a seemingly innocent challenge, 55 minutes into the match. After 56 played minutes Benson and Hedges got a freekick which was hit by Oskar Mogren. Vitå's Rikard Siggman got a good chance for a goal in the 57th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Petter Löv fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 62nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Edvard Springfält having to interfere. If Gaizka Mendieta had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 65th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. 67 minutes into the match, Gaizka Mendieta notched a goal, 1-3, to the right of Vitå's Edvard Springfält. Edvard Springfält was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. J.P. Gonzales fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 70th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Edvard Springfält having to interfere. The audience thought a goal was coming when Petter Löv got free with Edvard Springfält in the 71st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Petter Löv who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 77thth minute tested the skills of Edvard Springfält when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Petter Löv sent away a hard shot on goal in the 80th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 85thth minute of the game Petter Löv who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Vitå's Edvard Springfält was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Edvard Springfält stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Petter Löv's shot from short distance in the 87th minute. Gaizka Mendieta fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 91st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Edvard Springfält having to interfere. Gaizka Mendieta was extremely unlucky when he, in the 97th minute, took a shot that hit the right post and went out. Benson and Hedges's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.