League Play-Off

sherlock
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Rio Ackroyd started the match with the kick off. Fitz Atkinson sent away a hard shot on goal in the 4th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a defensive mix-up in West Buckland AFC's zone, Rio Ackroyd stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Duncan Newbury came out of the goal and Rio Ackroyd tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Duncan Newbury didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Fitz Atkinson went, in the 18th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-1 was the resulting score. Rio Ackroyd might have been able to make a better finish in the 24th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Duncan Newbury. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Rio Ackroyd ran back to his position shaking his head. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Rio Ackroyd in the 26th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Duncan Newbury saved West Buckland AFC from getting behind. A collision led to West Buckland AFC getting a freekick after 26 minutes play. Eric Cummins hit a great ball. 28 minutes into the match, West Buckland AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Rio Ackroyd came free, but Duncan Newbury reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a rather tough play, West Buckland AFC's Jeff Kingston got a free kick in the 29th minute. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Rio Ackroyd in the 32nd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Duncan Newbury prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Duncan Newbury stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Rio Ackroyd's shot from short distance in the 33rd minute. When Pouton's Rio Ackroyd in the 35th minute got a chance for a shot 35th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye West Buckland AFC's goalie prevented a goal. In the 36th match minute, West Buckland AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Eric Cummins to maneuver through the defense. After having played for 37 minutes, Fitz Atkinson managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Pouton's supporters crossed their fingers, but Fitz Atkinson was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Rio Ackroyd in the 38th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Duncan Newbury prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Duncan Newbury took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Rio Ackroyd, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Duncan Newbury showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Rio Ackroyd, who was totally free with the ball in the 47th 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.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Dean Hughes to make the kick off. After a defensive mix-up in West Buckland AFC's zone, Jordan Darling stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Duncan Newbury came out of the goal and Jordan Darling tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Duncan Newbury made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Conan Corrigan in the 52nd minute of play. Pouton's Fitz Atkinson got a good chance for a goal in the 55th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. West Buckland AFC's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Gavin Hughes in the 66th minute. Gavin Hughes made a great header on West Buckland AFC's corner, it was just that Pouton's CJ Poate managed to reach the ball for a save. The supporters of Pouton booed when West Buckland AFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 69 match minutes in a wonderful position. Colin Pickard didn't get a good kick on the ball. 71 minutes into the match, West Buckland AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Rio Ackroyd came free, but Duncan Newbury reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When Fitz Atkinson came up free with the goalie in the 74th minute, the Pouton 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 Fitz Atkinson couldn't finish the play. 75 minutes into the game, Denis Wilberforce was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. West Buckland AFC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Pouton the free kick. Denis Wilberforce kicked well hit freekick during the 75th minute of the match. CJ Poate showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Dean Hughes in the 79th minute of the match. In the 82nd match minute, Pouton was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jeff May to maneuver through the defense. A collision led to Pouton getting a freekick after 84 minutes play. Conan Corrigan hit a great ball. If Ed Downs had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 85th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 89 minutes, Jordan Darling mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Pouton and the West Buckland AFC players grew even worse after the yellow card. Dean Hughes fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 91st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without CJ Poate having to interfere.