League Play-Off

Hampton in Arden
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dave Rothery made the kick off and thus started the match. Toby Butt sent away a hard shot on goal in the 8th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 12 minutes into the game, Rich Hudson cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Devon Rothwell was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Dave Rothery fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 17th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without John Forrester having to interfere. John Forrester was a little too slow when Dave Rothery got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 19th minute. The score was now 1-1. Wayne Rocastle hit a great freekick 22 minutes into the match. Dave Rothery received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 26th minute. John Forrester tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Nial Bettinson had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 28th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Devon Rothwell showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Nial Bettinson in the 31st minute of the match. The crowd rose to their feet as Dave Rothery kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving John Forrester. That made the score 2-1 in the 37 minute of play. 41 minutes into the game, one of Hampton in Arden AFC:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. In the 44th minute there was a penalty for Matlock United. Simon Seagrave stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Devon Rothwell. 2-2. Devon Rothwell came out of the goal in the 48th minute to try and stop a shot by Matlock United's Nial Bettinson. But to his dismay, Nial Bettinson quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-3. Disappointed in the 2-3 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The wind increased when Nial Bettinson made the kick off in the second half. Den Hamilton fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 57th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without John Forrester having to interfere. When Den Hamilton fell near the penalty area in the 59th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Hampton in Arden AFC's protests and gave Den Hamilton a yellow card for diving instead. In the 59th match minute, Hampton in Arden AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Den Hamilton to maneuver through the defense. Dave Rothery might have been able to make a better finish in the 61st minute when he tried to place a hard shot over John Forrester. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Dave Rothery ran back to his position shaking his head. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Toby Butt in the 61st minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck John Forrester prevented the ball from getting in the gole. If Nial Bettinson had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 63rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a rather tough play, Matlock United's Martin Bryden got a free kick in the 70th minute. The audience cheered when Sam Brodie's long shot passed John Forrester's right side. It was 3-3, 71 minutes into the match. 4-3 became the score in the 74th minute when Toby Butt elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. In the 79th minute the ball was on its way in behind Hampton in Arden AFC's goalkeeper Devon Rothwell, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Hampton in Arden AFC's Den Hamilton got his second yellow card of the match in the 81st minute. The referee ordered Den Hamilton off the ground. 86 minutes into the match, Hampton in Arden AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Nial Bettinson came free, but Devon Rothwell reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 90 minutes, Dom Berryman mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Matlock United and the Hampton in Arden AFC players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 89th minute, one of Matlock United:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Matlock United. Matlock United:s John Forrester showed great skill when he stopped Sam Brodie:s penalty. 91 minutes into the game, Sam Brodie cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 5-3. John Forrester was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Devon Rothwell took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Micheal Blowman, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Hampton in Arden AFC were really happy, having secured the victory after a very even contest. They thanked the players of Matlock United for a fine match.