League Play-Off

Sheffield Stadium
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Blair Wadham started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. After a rather tough play, Sheffield United's Leo Basterfield got a free kick in the 7th minute. In the 13th minute Leo Basterfield shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ash Beswetherick saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Sheffield United's zone, Blair Wadham stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ivan McGrath came out of the goal and Blair Wadham tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 16th minute, Blair Wadham hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After having played for 17 minutes, Hugh Woodhead managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Sheffield United's supporters crossed their fingers, but Hugh Woodhead was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 19 minutes into the match, Sheffield United's goal looked a bit too open when Blair Wadham came free, but Ivan McGrath reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 24th minute the ball was on its way in behind Sheffield United's goalkeeper Ivan McGrath, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After some fancy dribbling in the 28th minute, Seb Martin managed to get in a good position for a shot. Leiston's supporters rose to their feet, but Seb Martin was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ivan McGrath breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Hugh Woodhead sent away a hard shot on goal in the 37th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 41st minute Seb Martin shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ivan McGrath saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Adam Wicks's late challenge caught a Leiston's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Adam Wicks helped the player get up and apologised. After 42 played minutes Sheffield United got a freekick which was hit by Adam Wicks. Seb Martin fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 44th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ivan McGrath having to interfere. After 47 played minutes Sheffield United got a freekick which was hit by Graham Venables.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Leo Basterfield to make the kick off. If Hugh Woodhead had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 51st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 52 minutes, Lloyd Chilton mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Sheffield United and the Leiston players grew even worse after the yellow card. Ash Beswetherick took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Leo Basterfield, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 1-0 became the score in the 61st minute when Leo Basterfield elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. Lloyd Chilton was shown his second yellow card after 68 minutes, following a rather ugly tackle on opponent. That was the end of his participation in the match. After a rather tough play, Sheffield United's Lloyd Chilton got a free kick in the 68th minute. In the 69th minute, Gordon Renner fired a really elegant long shot, but Ivan McGrath threw himself and managed to get hold of the ball just in front of the right post. After some careless play in the Leiston defense, Hugh Woodhead kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Ash Beswetherick. The Leiston fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Ash Beswetherick should have stopped the shot. With an all-out effort, Leiston's Ivan McGrath threw himself towards the right post 80 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Blair Wadham, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Hugh Woodhead received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 82nd minute. Ash Beswetherick tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in Leiston's zone, Graham Venables stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ash Beswetherick came out of the goal and Graham Venables tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Hugh Woodhead fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 95th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ash Beswetherick having to interfere. Sheffield United's supporters were highly satisfied with the result. They cheered their team of the pitch, having watched them win a very even match.