League Play-Off

Whitechapel
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) David Hopker started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Through an outstanding action, after 6 minutes, Jeremy Tuck successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. Jeremy Tuck made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Garry Burns in the 8th minute of play. In the 9th minute Ivan Weedon shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jeremy Tuck saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ivan Weedon received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 15th minute. Jeremy Tuck tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Gez Stockdale took the ball and in the 17 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Jeremy Tuck. Jeremy Tuck dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-0. If Devon Lester had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 20th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The supporters of Arden booed when Whitechapel was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 21 match minutes in a wonderful position. Stuart Brewer didn't get a good kick on the ball. Michael Ramsden showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from David Hopker, who was totally free with the ball in the 27th minute. In the 28th minute of the match, Junior Davenport got a very nice opportunity to score, but Jeremy Tuck was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. Jeremy Tuck showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Stuart Brewer in the 36th minute of the match. Garry Burns's late challenge caught a Arden's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Garry Burns helped the player get up and apologised. David Hopker sent away a hard shot on goal in the 45th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 3-0 at half-time.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Ivan Weedon stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After a rather tough play, Whitechapel's Gez Stockdale got a free kick in the 58th minute. The audience was convinced that David Hopker's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Michael Ramsden was relentless in the 59th minute of the game. Arden's attentive Alfie Warner managed to snatch the ball when Stevie Pell made a throw-in in the 64th minute of the game. In the 66th match minute, Arden was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Devon Lester to maneuver through the defense. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ivan Weedon in the 69th minute of play forced Arden's goalkeeper Jeremy Tuck to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Devon Lester struck a weak shot in the 70th minute. Michael Ramsden didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Arden. Philip Mortimer hit a great freekick 73 minutes into the match. Gez Stockdale got his second yellow card in the match during the 75th minute which meant that he had to leave the ground. After some fancy dribbling in the 79th minute, Junior Davenport managed to get in a good position for a shot. Whitechapel's supporters rose to their feet, but Junior Davenport was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Jeremy Tuck breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 84 minutes into the match, Arden's goal looked a bit too open when Junior Davenport came free, but Jeremy Tuck reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Scott Monk charged in rather forcefully in the 85th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Scott Monk the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 85 played minutes Arden got a freekick which was hit by Scott Monk. Jeremy Tuck took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ivan Weedon, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 89th minute, Whitechapel's Garry Burns seemed to kick out at an opponent. The referee saw this and, surprisingly, showed Garry Burns the red card, dismissing him from the pitch. The coaching staff of Whitechapel protested bitterly, but the referee would have none of it, and Garry Burns had no choice but to slowly walk off the pitch. Arden's Philip Mortimer couldn't find anyone to pass the ball to, so he shot a long shot towards the goal in the 91st minute. The shot went wide which resulted in a goal kick for Whitechapel. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Whitechapel had won after a very even match.