League Play-Off

Hoddesdon Stadium
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Fred Murphy started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Fred Murphy fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 4th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Grant Clifton having to interfere. Fred Murphy sent away a hard shot on goal in the 7th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Russell Mortimer sent away a hard shot on goal in the 12th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience was convinced that Fred Murphy's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Grant Clifton was relentless in the 16th minute of the game. After a defensive mix-up in Hoddesdon's zone, Fred Murphy stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Grant Clifton came out of the goal and Fred Murphy tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. When Alastair Buckler came up free with the goalie in the 23rd minute, the Hoddesdon 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 Alastair Buckler couldn't finish the play. After having played for 26 minutes, Fred Murphy managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Lavenham United's supporters crossed their fingers, but Fred Murphy was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Niall Tully during the 28th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Austen Briant was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 29th played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. If Philip Wood had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 34th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Lavenham United's Fred Murphy got a good chance for a goal in the 36th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. If Kristian Dryden had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 37th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. When Lavenham United's Fred Murphy in the 38th minute got a chance for a shot 38th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Hoddesdon's goalie prevented a goal. Alastair Buckler received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 40th minute. Dean Pitts tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 41st minute, Graham Bradley hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Lavenham United's Dean Pitts proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 42nd minute of the match, managed to save Lavenham United from getting a goal against them. Dean Pitts showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alastair Buckler, who was totally free with the ball in the 44th minute. 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.

In the 53rd minute the ball was on its way in behind Lavenham United's goalkeeper Dean Pitts, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Russell Mortimer recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 55th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 57th minute Alastair Buckler shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dean Pitts saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Dean Pitts showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Russell Mortimer in the 66th minute of the match. Russell Mortimer received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 67th minute. Dean Pitts tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Russell Mortimer fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 71st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dean Pitts having to interfere. Hoddesdon's Grant Clifton played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Fred Murphy in the 73rd minute of play. Alastair Buckler took the ball and in the 75 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Dean Pitts. Dean Pitts dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-0. Russell Mortimer blasted a shot towards the goal in the 79th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Dean Pitts having to make a save. Thanks to some nice moves Kristian Dryden could shoot a difficult shot in the 81st minute, which Grant Clifton however easily saved by the left post. If Fred Murphy had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 90th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. After a defensive mix-up in Hoddesdon's zone, Fred Murphy stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Grant Clifton came out of the goal and Fred Murphy tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Hoddesdon had won after a very even match.