League Play-Off

Lingfield Park
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Jay Litchfield kicked off to start the match. In the 5th minute the ball was on its way in behind Lingfield's goalkeeper Stan Perkins, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Lingfield's Stan Perkins played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Eric Mann in the 8th minute of play. Stan Perkins made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Greg Crossley in the 14th minute of play. Vance Rogers struck a weak shot in the 15th minute. Stan Perkins didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Manchester City. The supporters of Lingfield booed when Manchester City was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 17 match minutes in a wonderful position. Vance Rogers didn't get a good kick on the ball. Noel Doona showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Trevor Stonehouse in the 21st minute of the match. Trevor Stonehouse received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Noel Doona came out and tried to block the shot, but Trevor Stonehouse slotted it home off the left post making it 2-0 in the 26th minute. 29 minutes into the match, Manchester City's goal looked a bit too open when Trevor Stonehouse came free, but Noel Doona reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Richard Fleming had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 30th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Vance Rogers had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 34th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Richard Fleming in the 38th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Stan Perkins saved Lingfield from getting behind. After 44 minutes, Stuart Braithwaite mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Lingfield and the Manchester City players grew even worse after the yellow card. Richard Fleming might have been able to make a better finish in the 47th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Stan Perkins. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Richard Fleming ran back to his position shaking his head. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 2-0 at half-time.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Richard Fleming to strike the kick off in the second half. 52 minutes into the match, Lingfield's goalkeeper Stan Perkins had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Richard Fleming. Eric Mann fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 54th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Stan Perkins having to interfere. In the 59th match minute, Manchester City was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Vance Rogers to maneuver through the defense. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Gus Higson during the 60th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After a rather tough play, Manchester City's Gus Higson got a free kick in the 60th minute. 63 minutes into the game, Eric Mann cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-2. Stan Perkins was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Stan Perkins made an important save on a dangerous shot by Eric Mann in the 66th minute. After a rather tough play, Lingfield's Stuart Braithwaite got a free kick in the 67th minute. 70 minutes into the match, Manchester City's Richard Fleming sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Stan Perkins narrowly saved just below the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Greg Crossley in the 72nd minute of play forced Lingfield's goalkeeper Stan Perkins to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After having played for 73 minutes, Vance Rogers managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Manchester City's supporters crossed their fingers, but Vance Rogers was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Lingfield's Stan Perkins proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 76th minute of the match, managed to save Lingfield from getting a goal against them. After 79 minutes of play, Manchester City's Eric Mann made it 2-3 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Stan Perkins was left in no man's land by his defense there! When Trevor Stonehouse fell near the penalty area in the 81st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Lingfield's protests and gave Trevor Stonehouse a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Manchester City booed when Lingfield was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 82 match minutes in a wonderful position. Trevor Stonehouse didn't get a good kick on the ball. Richard Flemings short, quick shot in the 85thth minute got Stan Perkins to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Richard Fleming had several of the Lingfield's defenders around him in the penalty area when he, after 87 minutes of play, received a pass and succeeded in some way to shoot a shot which went straight ahead into goal. This resulted in a 2-4 score and a disappointed Stan Perkins as he didn't even see the shot coming. If Richard Fleming had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 91st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Lingfield's Stan Perkins played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Greg Crossley in the 93rd minute of play. The Lingfield fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. Manchester City were clearly better and deserved to take the win.