League Play-Off

Madness
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Tom Sugden got the match started through his kick off. In the 10th minute the ball was on its way in behind Ripon FC's goalkeeper Lenny Downes, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 18th minute of the match Johnathan Brimble sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Lenny Downes skillfully saved the ball. Archie Barratt's late challenge caught a Maniac City's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Archie Barratt helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to Ripon FC getting a freekick after 22 minutes play. Archie Barratt hit a great ball. If Lewis Barnes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 24th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Phil Fowler hit a great freekick 29 minutes into the match. If Aaron Nightingale had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 33rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 33rd minute, Maniac City's Lewis Barnes dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-1. CJ Furlong kicked well hit freekick during the 35th minute of the match. After a rather tough play, Maniac City's Lewis Barnes got a free kick in the 37th minute. 38 minutes into the game, Franz Gamble was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Ripon FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Maniac City the free kick. Franz Gamble kicked well hit freekick during the 38th minute of the match. Rhys Laycock took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Franz Gamble, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 43 minutes into the match, Ripon FC's goal looked a bit too open when Lewis Barnes came free, but Lenny Downes reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When Aaron Nightingale came up free with the goalie in the 44th minute, the Maniac City 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 Aaron Nightingale couldn't finish the play.

The wind increased when Lewis Barnes made the kick off in the second half. Franz Gamble received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 52nd minute. Rhys Laycock tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Aaron Nightingale in the 54th minute of play forced Ripon FC's goalkeeper Lenny Downes to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Rhys Laycock was a little too slow when Tom Sugden got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 56th minute. The score was now 1-2. Ripon FC's Lenny Downes played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lewis Barnes in the 60th minute of play. The supporters of Ripon FC booed when Maniac City was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 62 match minutes in a wonderful position. Fitz Markham didn't get a good kick on the ball. 70 minutes in the game, the ball went up into the seats when Maniac City's Aaron Nightingale fired away a shot that was just a little bit too high. He walked away shaking his head. In the 71st minute, Archie Barratt hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Lenny Downes showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Lewis Barnes, who was totally free with the ball in the 72nd minute. If Tom Sugden had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 75th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 77th minute, Franz Gamble 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 supporters of Ripon FC booed when Maniac City was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 91 match minutes in a wonderful position. CJ Furlong didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 94th match minute, Maniac City was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Malcolm May to maneuver through the defense. After some fancy dribbling in the 95th minute, Tom Sugden managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ripon FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Tom Sugden was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Rhys Laycock breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. Ripon FC walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.