League Play-Off

Smisby Park
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) After having played for 5 minutes, Austin Brady managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Grove FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Austin Brady was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. If Alastair Ramsden had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 7th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After some fancy dribbling in the 9th minute, Kurt Orchard managed to get in a good position for a shot. Smisby City's supporters rose to their feet, but Kurt Orchard was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Kev Horsey breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Kurt Orchard struck a weak shot in the 12th minute. Kev Horsey didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Smisby City. Conan Arrowsmith received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 22nd minute. Daryl Trusswell tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Kev Horsey made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Kurt Orchard in the 26th minute of play. 31 minutes into the match, Smisby City's goal looked a bit too open when Conan Arrowsmith came free, but Daryl Trusswell reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Smisby City's Chris Henwood got a good chance for a goal in the 33rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After having played for 40 minutes, Conan Arrowsmith managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Grove FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Conan Arrowsmith was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Anthony Bowland, 43 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. Austin Brady sent away a hard shot on goal in the 46th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 1-0 at half-time.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Conan Arrowsmith to strike the kick off in the second half. In the 57th minute, Eddie Tubbs hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 59th minute Alastair Ramsden shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Kev Horsey saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When Kris Fountain fell near the penalty area in the 63rd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Smisby City's protests and gave Kris Fountain a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Grove FC booed when Smisby City was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 64 match minutes in a wonderful position. Kris Fountain didn't get a good kick on the ball. A hard shot by Anthony Bowland from long distance, 64 minutes into the match, got Daryl Trusswell's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. In the 65th match minute, Smisby City was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Chris Henwood to maneuver through the defense. In the 67thth minute of the game Conan Arrowsmith who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Smisby City's Daryl Trusswell was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. 68 minutes into the match, Smisby City's goalkeeper Daryl Trusswell had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Austin Brady. After a rather tough play, Smisby City's Christian Tetley got a free kick in the 68th minute. Austin Bradys short, quick shot in the 75thth minute got Daryl Trusswell to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. John Harris received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 78th minute. Daryl Trusswell tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 85 minutes, Kurt Orchard made it 2-0 with a short kick to the right side. Grove FC's Kev Horsey tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. When Conan Arrowsmith came up free with the goalie in the 88th minute, the Grove FC 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 Conan Arrowsmith couldn't finish the play. Christian Tetley's late challenge caught a Grove FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Christian Tetley helped the player get up and apologised. Ivor Bromley hit a great freekick 91 minutes into the match. Kev Horsey took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Kurt Orchard, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 93 minutes into the match, Grove FC's goal looked a bit too open when Alastair Ramsden came free, but Kev Horsey reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. For all the effort they put into the match, the Grove FC players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Smisby City.