League Play-Off

Birkenhead
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) In the 10th minute, Russ Maxwell ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Johnny Brooke was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. In the 13th minute, Russ Maxwell got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. 17 minutes into the game, Manchester Devils's Russ Maxwell nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Johnny Brooke made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-2. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Russ Maxwell in the 20th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Johnny Brooke saved Machiavellian from getting behind. 25 minutes into the match, Manchester Devils's goal looked a bit too open when Walter Castledine came free, but Tommy Ellis reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 29th play minutes Walter Castledine shot 2-2, a short shot which went by Tommy Ellis and just under the crossbar into goal. In the 32nd minute Deon Ellerton shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Johnny Brooke saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Russ Maxwell sent away a hard shot on goal in the 33rd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Ralf Cowling sent away a hard shot on goal in the 37th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Keanu Wardell sent away a hard shot on goal in the 38th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Russ Maxwell received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 42nd minute. Johnny Brooke tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 44 minutes, Russ Maxwell mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Manchester Devils and the Machiavellian players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 44th match minute, Manchester Devils was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Russ Maxwell to maneuver through the defense.

The wind increased when Walter Castledine made the kick off in the second half. After 51 played minutes Machiavellian got a freekick which was hit by Keanu Wardell. Russ Maxwell who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 55thth minute tested the skills of Johnny Brooke when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Shawn Sutton received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 62nd minute. Tommy Ellis tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 63rd minute, Ed Goldthorpe hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Russ Maxwell took the ball and in the 66 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Johnny Brooke. Johnny Brooke dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-4. Russ Maxwell recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 69th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Shawn Sutton's late challenge caught a Manchester Devils's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Shawn Sutton helped the player get up and apologised. After 70 played minutes Machiavellian got a freekick which was hit by Shawn Sutton. In the 72nd minute Walter Castledine shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tommy Ellis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 73rd minute Ray Alsop shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tommy Ellis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Johnny Brooke made a fantastic save in the 74th minute, when Ralf Cowling sent off a good shot on target. In the 76th minute Shawn Sutton shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tommy Ellis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Manchester Devils's Russ Maxwell got a good chance for a goal in the 80th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 84th minute, Russ Maxwell ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Johnny Brooke was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-5. Russ Maxwell received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 87th minute. Johnny Brooke tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After some fancy dribbling in the 88th minute, Ralf Cowling managed to get in a good position for a shot. Manchester Devils's supporters rose to their feet, but Ralf Cowling was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Johnny Brooke breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Russ Maxwell's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 92ndth minute, Johnny Brooke skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Johnny Brooke showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Russ Maxwell, who was totally free with the ball in the 93rd minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Keanu Wardell in the 95th minute of play forced Manchester Devils's goalkeeper Tommy Ellis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When the match was over Manchester Devils could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Machiavellian throughout the match.