League Play-Off

Shanklin Stadium
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Reem Team's Ashley Hardcastle started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. In the 5th minute Marek Hawke shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Matt Morley saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Marek Hawke in the 9th minute of play forced Shanklin's goalkeeper Matt Morley to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Dean Wilkins might have been able to make a better finish in the 11th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Louis Laverick. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Dean Wilkins ran back to his position shaking his head. The audience was convinced that Marek Hawke's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Matt Morley was relentless in the 13th minute of the game. Crispin Croxford sent away a hard shot on goal in the 15th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a rather tough play, Reem Team's Brad Woods got a free kick in the 16th minute. In the 19th minute, Marek Hawke made a precise shot to the right of Matt Morley. Shanklin's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-1. If Ashley Hardcastle had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 31st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 36th minute Ashley Hardcastle shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Matt Morley saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Matt Morley showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Marek Hawke, who was totally free with the ball in the 42nd minute. In the 46th match minute, Shanklin was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ty Riley to maneuver through the defense. If Marek Hawke had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 48th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Crispin Croxford was the one to do the kick off. Ashley Hardcastle received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 56th minute. Matt Morley tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. With his leg Matt Morley managed to avoid a goal in the 59thth minute, when Reem Team's Ashley Hardcastle fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Matt Morley showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ashley Hardcastle in the 61st minute of the match. Ken Etherington hit a great freekick 61 minutes into the match. When the match clock showed 62 minutes, the score became 0-2 when Marek Hawke sped through Shanklin's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Matt Morley. In the 66th match minute, Reem Team was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Andy Swanson to maneuver through the defense. When Shanklin's Dean Wilkins in the 68th minute got a chance for a shot 68th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Reem Team's goalie prevented a goal. Dean Wilkins received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 74th minute. Louis Laverick tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Marek Hawke could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 76th minute of the match, but Matt Morley made a huge save. Shanklin's goalkeeper couldn't reach when Ashley Hardcastle 78 minutes into the game got a good kick on the ball which found its way into goal just inside left pole. 0-4. Shanklin's Matt Morley played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ashley Hardcastle in the 82nd minute of play. Marek Hawke fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 83rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Matt Morley having to interfere. Marek Hawke sent away a hard shot on goal in the 90th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 94 played minutes Shanklin got a freekick which was hit by Ty Riley. In the 96th minute, Ashley Hardcastle 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. The Reem Team supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Reem Team would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.