League Play-Off

Houghton Regis Park
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Gez Adams 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. In the 5th minute, Owen Stamp hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 7 played minutes, INVASION's Sacha Hardwick shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Chris Mansell came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in INVASION reached it. The audience was convinced that Sean Hackney's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Chris Mansell was relentless in the 8th minute of the game. INVASION's goalkeeper couldn't reach when Niall Radcliffe 11 minutes into the game got a good kick on the ball which found its way into goal just inside left pole. 1-0. In the 13th minute, Niall Radcliffe hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 16th minute, Sean Hackney left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The INVASION fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. Greg Fielden hit a great freekick 18 minutes into the match. In the 20th minute Gavin Alsford shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Chris Mansell saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 21st minute of the match Phil Fitzgerald sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Chris Mansell skillfully saved the ball. Liam Ridsdale sent away a hard shot on goal in the 23rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 24th minute Den Burley shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Pat Willoughby saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Pat Willoughby showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Den Burley, who was totally free with the ball in the 28th minute. If Gez Adams had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 36th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Warren Longthorn hit a great freekick 40 minutes into the match. In the 40th match minute Drew Beardsley ran free in the middle of the field and shot a long shot which scored behind a totally surprised Pat Willoughby. 2-1. Warren Longthorn charged in rather forcefully in the 44th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Warren Longthorn the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After a rather tough play, INVASION's Warren Longthorn got a free kick in the 44th minute. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 2-1.

The wind increased when Sean Hackney made the kick off in the second half. When Gez Adams came up free with the goalie in the 52nd minute, the INVASION 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 Gez Adams couldn't finish the play. Sean Hackney received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 58th minute. Chris Mansell tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Phil Fitzgerald took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 61st minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Chris Mansell. Houghton Regis City's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Warren Longthorn was shown his second yellow card after 73 minutes, following a rather ugly tackle on opponent. That was the end of his participation in the match. In the 73rd minute, Warren Longthorn hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Pat Willoughby took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Den Burley, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The supporters of Houghton Regis City booed when INVASION was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 77 match minutes in a wonderful position. Garth Sheldon didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Houghton Regis City's Liam Ridsdale, in the 78th minute, received a pass right in front of the net, it looked like a certain goal, but his shot went outside. A wasted opportunity for Houghton Regis City. Houghton Regis City's Liam Ridsdale got a good chance for a goal in the 82nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Den Burley's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Pat Willoughby read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 84th minute of play. Pat Willoughby showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Liam Ridsdale, who was totally free with the ball in the 85th minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Gez Adams got free with Chris Mansell in the 88th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Gez Adams 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.