League Play-Off

Rye Stadium
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Rye's Amattaken Mesbah 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. Shelfield's Amawal Nabil played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Amattaken Mesbah in the 3rd minute of play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Aras Madjer during the 7th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The audience was convinced that Yamine Tobbal's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Kacem Bachtobji was relentless in the 8th minute of the game. 12 minutes into the match, Rye's goal looked a bit too open when Reda Amirouche came free, but Kacem Bachtobji reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Hafs Kermali in the 19th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Kacem Bachtobji prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Kacem Bachtobji showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Hafs Kermali, who was totally free with the ball in the 23rd minute. The supporters of Shelfield booed when Rye was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 25 match minutes in a wonderful position. Redha Benzaghou didn't get a good kick on the ball. 29 minutes into the game, Rye's Aras Madjer nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Amawal Nabil made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0. In the 37th minute, Yamine Tobbal left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Shelfield fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. When Redha Benzaghou fell near the penalty area in the 44th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Rye's protests and gave Redha Benzaghou a yellow card for diving instead. A collision led to Rye getting a freekick after 44 minutes play. Redha Benzaghou hit a great ball. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 2-1.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Hafs Kermali to strike the kick off in the second half. In the 55th minute Shelfield were awarded a corner. Athmane Bilal went to the cornerflag to take it. After 60 played minutes, Rye's Rami Khadra shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Amawal Nabil came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Rye reached it. Rami Khadra hit a great freekick 61 minutes into the match. Hafs Kermali received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 63rd minute. Kacem Bachtobji tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Amawal Nabil stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Aras Madjer's shot from short distance in the 69th minute. Hafs Kermali sent away a hard shot on goal in the 71st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Yamine Tobbal succeeded to score despite a near miss that spronge from right pole into the goal to 2-2 in the 74th playminute. When Abdel Karim Ali fell near the penalty area in the 80th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Rye's protests and gave Abdel Karim Ali a yellow card for diving instead. 80 minutes into the game, one of Rye:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. Kacem Bachtobji had in the 83rdth minute some difficulties stopping Athmane Bilal's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. After a long run with the ball, Athmane Bilal did a trick in the 83rd minute in front of Rye's goalkeeper, who threw himself to the side. After that it was simple to shoot 2-3. An impressive performance by Shelfield's Athmane Bilal! 90 minutes into the match, Rye's goal looked a bit too open when Hafs Kermali came free, but Kacem Bachtobji reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When Aras Madjer came up free with the goalie in the 99th minute, the Rye 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 Aras Madjer couldn't finish the play. Shelfield's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.