League Play-Off

Birkenhead Park
Spectators: 38 (Terracing: 29, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Stewart Probert made the kick off and thus started the match. After 5 played minutes Wirral Town FC got a freekick which was hit by Dan Ellershaw. In the 6th minute the ball was on its way in behind Wirral Town FC's goalkeeper Tod Ingram, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After 7 played minutes Richings Park FC got a freekick which was hit by Lance Blackwood. Ali Güralp Tanyıldız sent away a hard shot on goal in the 13th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 19 minutes into the match, Lance Blackwood had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Tod Ingram. Wirral Town FC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Lance Blackwood was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-2. In the 22nd minute of the match Giles Blacknell shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Tod Ingram showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. A collision led to Wirral Town FC getting a freekick after 25 minutes play. Damian Howard hit a great ball. Stewart Probert could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 27th minute of the match, but Guido Bartoli made a huge save. Richings Park FC's Guido Bartoli proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 29th minute of the match, managed to save Richings Park FC from getting a goal against them. The supporters of Richings Park FC booed when Wirral Town FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 30 match minutes in a wonderful position. Darius Bailey didn't get a good kick on the ball. After some careless play in the Wirral Town FC defense, Ali Güralp Tanyıldız kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Tod Ingram. The Wirral Town FC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Tod Ingram should have stopped the shot. Tod Ingram showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ali Güralp Tanyıldız, who was totally free with the ball in the 36th minute. Richings Park FC's Guido Bartoli proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 40th minute of the match, managed to save Richings Park FC from getting a goal against them. Lance Blackwood received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 41st minute. Tod Ingram tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After the first half Richings Park FC were leading 0-4. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

59 minutes into the game, Ali Güralp Tanyıldız cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-6. Tod Ingram was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Grant Rushmere sent away a hard shot on goal in the 61st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Stewart Locke scored 1-6 in the 64th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Guido Bartoli, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Guido Bartoli showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Stewart Probert, who was totally free with the ball in the 67th minute. Theo Middleton charged in rather forcefully in the 68th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Theo Middleton the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Stewart Locke in the 72nd minute of play forced Richings Park FC's goalkeeper Guido Bartoli to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. It was a well-played corner which Dan Ellershaw managed to volley towards the net. Unfortunately, he didn't get a great hit on the ball and it went out into the grandstand. If Ali Güralp Tanyıldız had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 91st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 93rd minute, Richings Park FC's Lance Blackwood dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-7. The Richings Park FC supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Richings Park FC would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.