League Play-Off

Rushden
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) In the 3rd minute, Leroy Wills hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. An unexpectedly hard shot by Huey Ely in the 11th minute of play forced Rushden AFC's goalkeeper Ken Horn to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a rather tough play, Openshaw AFC's Kristian Dunlop got a free kick in the 21st minute. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Isaac Toulson during the 24th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After a rather tough play, Rushden AFC's Isaac Toulson got a free kick in the 24th minute. Huey Ely received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 26th minute. Ken Horn tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After some fancy dribbling in the 28th minute, Huey Ely managed to get in a good position for a shot. Openshaw AFC's supporters rose to their feet, but Huey Ely was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ken Horn breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Quentin Picker sent away a hard shot on goal in the 29th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Openshaw AFC's Huey Ely got a good chance for a goal in the 31st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Ken Horn didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Quentin Picker went, in the 33rd minute, to the upper right corner, 0-2 was the resulting score. In the 39th minute Quentin Picker shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ken Horn saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Brian Parkinson made a fantastic save in the 42nd minute, when Leroy Wills sent off a good shot on target. Isaac Toulson kicked well hit freekick during the 44th minute of the match. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Leroy Wills to strike the kick off in the second half. Leroy Wills fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 54th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Brian Parkinson having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Leroy Wills in the 56th minute of play forced Openshaw AFC's goalkeeper Brian Parkinson to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 58 minutes into the match, Rushden AFC's Leroy Wills sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Brian Parkinson narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Leroy Wills fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 63rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Brian Parkinson having to interfere. Brian Parkinson showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ralf Nottingham, who was totally free with the ball in the 65th minute. Leroy Wills's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Brian Parkinson read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 66th minute of play. Ralf Nottingham scored 1-2 in the 67th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Brian Parkinson, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Ken Horn took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Quentin Picker, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Huey Ely had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 72nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Quentin Picker had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 74th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 77th minute the ball was on its way in behind Rushden AFC's goalkeeper Ken Horn, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. When Quentin Picker came up free with the goalie in the 82nd minute, the Openshaw AFC 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 Quentin Picker couldn't finish the play. 88 minutes into the match, Rushden AFC's goalkeeper Ken Horn had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Huey Ely. 89 minutes into the game, Matthew Warrender was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Rushden AFC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Openshaw AFC the free kick. A collision led to Rushden AFC getting a freekick after 90 minutes play. Matthew Warrender hit a great ball. Huey Ely struck a weak shot in the 97th minute. Ken Horn didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Openshaw AFC. When the match was over Openshaw AFC could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Rushden AFC throughout the match.