League Play-Off

Stanford le Hope
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Abdelhamid Cherrad started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Stanford le Hope United's Tarek Benida played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Abdelhamid Cherrad in the 4th minute of play. When Ikhlas Merzekane came up free with the goalie in the 12th minute, the Stanford le Hope United 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 Ikhlas Merzekane couldn't finish the play. After some fancy dribbling in the 14th minute, Abdelhamid Cherrad managed to get in a good position for a shot. Swanage FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Abdelhamid Cherrad was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Tarek Benida breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Mohamed Abdessalam took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 16th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Tarek Benida. Stanford le Hope United's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Affi Zemirline in the 20th minute of play forced Swanage FC's goalkeeper Adza Boumedienne to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Fateh Dahmane's late challenge caught a Swanage FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Fateh Dahmane helped the player get up and apologised. In the 21st minute, Fateh Dahmane hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Tarek Benida made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Athmane Ayad in the 23rd minute of play. After 23 played minutes Stanford le Hope United got a freekick which was hit by Karim Arrache. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Abdelhamid Cherrad during the 27th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. 30 minutes into the match, Swanage FC's goal looked a bit too open when Ikhlas Merzekane came free, but Adza Boumedienne reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 31st minute, Swanage FC's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Affi Zemirline fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. Adza Boumedienne showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ikhlas Merzekane in the 34th minute of the match. After 34 played minutes Stanford le Hope United got a freekick which was hit by Fateh Dahmane. With a little luck, Swanage FC's Adza Boumedienne got control of the ball when Fateh Dahmane tried to sneak it across the goal line. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Muhammad Benhelal during the 42nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 42 played minutes Stanford le Hope United got a freekick which was hit by Muhammad Benhelal. Adza Boumedienne took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ikhlas Merzekane, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 47 minutes into the match, Swanage FC's goal looked a bit too open when Ikhlas Merzekane came free, but Adza Boumedienne reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Ikhlas Merzekane stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Stanford le Hope United's Affi Zemirline got a good chance for a goal in the 54th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Tarek Benida made an important save on a dangerous shot by Athmane Ayad in the 63rd minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ikhlas Merzekane in the 65th minute of play forced Swanage FC's goalkeeper Adza Boumedienne to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 65 minutes into the game, Brahim Medaci was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Swanage FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Stanford le Hope United the free kick. The supporters of Stanford le Hope United booed when Swanage FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 65 match minutes in a wonderful position. Brahim Medaci didn't get a good kick on the ball. 71 minutes into the match, Stanford le Hope United's goal looked a bit too open when Abdelhamid Cherrad came free, but Tarek Benida reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Stanford le Hope United's Tarek Benida proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 73rd minute of the match, managed to save Stanford le Hope United from getting a goal against them. The supporters of Swanage FC booed when Stanford le Hope United was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 76 match minutes in a wonderful position. Karim Arrache didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Athmane Ayad had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 81st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The supporters of Swanage FC booed when Stanford le Hope United was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 82 match minutes in a wonderful position. Fateh Dahmane didn't get a good kick on the ball. Ikhlas Merzekane sent away a hard shot on goal in the 85th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After some careless play in the Swanage FC defense, Affi Zemirline kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Adza Boumedienne. The Swanage FC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Adza Boumedienne should have stopped the shot. After 91 minutes of play, Stanford le Hope United's Ikhlas Merzekane made it 2-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Adza Boumedienne was left in no man's land by his defense there! Stanford le Hope United's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.