League Play-Off

Hale Park
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Nigel Bartrup took the kick off in the first half of the match. Nigel Bartrup struck a weak shot in the 3rd minute. Donny Flintoff didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Hale AFC. Ged Firth took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Vic Furlong, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 25th minute the ball was on its way in behind Hale AFC's goalkeeper Ged Firth, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After a rather tough play, Hale AFC's Zack Hilton got a free kick in the 28th minute. Vic Furlong sent away a hard shot on goal in the 32nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 37 minutes of play, Highbury and Islington AFC's Vic Furlong made it 0-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Ged Firth was left in no man's land by his defense there! Vic Furlong received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 42nd minute. Ged Firth tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After having played for 43 minutes, Vic Furlong managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Highbury and Islington AFC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Vic Furlong was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. If Buster Turner had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 47th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The Hale AFC players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Highbury and Islington AFC were winning 0-2.

After a rather tough play, Hale AFC's Zack Hilton got a free kick in the 57th minute. 59 minutes in the game, Buster Turner fired away an excellent shot, which passed to the side of the right post without Ged Firth having to interfere. Buster Turner fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 61st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ged Firth having to interfere. After having played for 63 minutes, Victor Crocker managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Hale AFC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Victor Crocker was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Ged Firth didn't succeed in stopping the ball in the 65th minute, which inside left pole to 0-3. In the 68th minute, Buster Turner got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. With a little luck, Hale AFC's Ged Firth got control of the ball when Vic Furlong tried to sneak it across the goal line. Vic Furlong received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 72nd minute. Ged Firth tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Vic Furlong fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 75th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ged Firth having to interfere. Ged Firth stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Buster Turner's shot from short distance in the 84th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Buster Turner in the 86th minute of play forced Hale AFC's goalkeeper Ged Firth to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Bruce Ellerker during the 87th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 87th match minute, Hale AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Bruce Ellerker to maneuver through the defense. 88 minutes into the match, Hale AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Buster Turner came free, but Ged Firth reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Buster Turner fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 89th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ged Firth having to interfere. 91 minutes into the match, Highbury and Islington AFC's Vic Furlong sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Ged Firth narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Donny Flintoff showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Victor Crocker, who was totally free with the ball in the 92nd minute. Hale AFC's Ged Firth played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Buster Turner in the 94th minute of play. After 95 minutes, Leroy Jepson mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Hale AFC and the Highbury and Islington AFC players grew even worse after the yellow card. When the match was over Highbury and Islington AFC could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Hale AFC throughout the match.