League Play-Off

Shanklin Stadium
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Oualid Deghmani got the match started through his kick off. Kateb Bouazza received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 8th minute. Nadjib Gharnati tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 9 played minutes Shanklin got a freekick which was hit by Abdel Yachir. If Chahid Benflis had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 13th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 17 minutes, Ilyas Kerrache mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Birkenhead and the Shanklin players grew even worse after the yellow card. Ilyas Kerrache kicked well hit freekick during the 17th minute of the match. After recieving a nice pass, Shanklin's Djamel Djebar tried to score from far away in the 18th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. 22 minutes into the match, Birkenhead's goal looked a bit too open when Rabah Mezair came free, but Jabar Hemdani reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 23 played minutes Birkenhead got a freekick which was hit by Ilyas Kerrache. In the 24th minute, Abdel Yachir had to leave the field with a concussion. During the 24th minute of the match Ilyas Kerrache completely mistimed his tackle and brought down his opponent. The referee gave Ilyas Kerrache a yellow card, his second in the match, which meant he could no longer take part in the game. In the 26th minute, Ilyas Kerrache hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Kateb Bouazza sent away a hard shot on goal in the 28th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The supporters of Birkenhead booed when Shanklin was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 29 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ghanem Khaldi didn't get a good kick on the ball. Chahid Benflis received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 35th minute. Jabar Hemdani tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Ghanem Khaldi fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 36th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jabar Hemdani having to interfere. Chahid Benflis hit a great freekick 40 minutes into the match. The first half was very even, with the score at 0-0 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Chahid Benflis made a kick off. 58 minutes into the match, Birkenhead's Kateb Bouazza sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Nadjib Gharnati narrowly saved just below the crossbar. 62 minutes into the match, Chahid Benflis notched a goal, 1-0, to the right of Birkenhead's Jabar Hemdani. Jabar Hemdani was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. After 64 played minutes Birkenhead got a freekick which was hit by Djamal Mansouri. 70 minutes into the match, Shanklin's goalkeeper Nadjib Gharnati had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Oualid Deghmani. Kateb Bouazza fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 79th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nadjib Gharnati having to interfere. The supporters of Shanklin booed when Birkenhead was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 82 match minutes in a wonderful position. Maamar Bouchemla didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Kateb Bouazza had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 85th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 87 minutes into the game, Rabah Mezair was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Shanklin's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Birkenhead the free kick. Rabah Mezair kicked well hit freekick during the 87th minute of the match. In the 94th match minute, Birkenhead was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Djamal Mansouri to maneuver through the defense. Djamel Djebar was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 95th played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. Shanklin's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.