League Play-Off

Grays Stadium
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Eric Lee-Barrett took the kick off in the first half of the match. In the 4th match minute, Conway Gardens was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Henry Leather to maneuver through the defense. In the 5th minute of the match Tod Lockwood sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Lance Rayner skillfully saved the ball. Lutterworth's Stefan Piercy proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 7th minute of the match, managed to save Lutterworth from getting a goal against them. 11 minutes into the match, Conway Gardens's Kurt Symons sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Stefan Piercy narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Dean Elvins received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 23rd minute. Stefan Piercy tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 23 minutes, Damion Dove mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Lutterworth and the Conway Gardens players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of Conway Gardens booed when Lutterworth was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 24 match minutes in a wonderful position. Damion Dove didn't get a good kick on the ball. Dean Elvins's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 25thth minute, Stefan Piercy skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. When Conway Gardens's Kurt Symons in the 26th minute got a chance for a shot 26th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Lutterworth's goalie prevented a goal. Rory Shakespeare sent away a hard shot on goal in the 30th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A hard shot 34 in the game by Dean Elvins from a close distance when the talented Stefan Piercy managed to make a qualified save. Lutterworth's players were relieved. In the 37th minute, Damion Dove hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 38 minutes into the match, Lutterworth's goal looked a bit too open when Kurt Symons came free, but Stefan Piercy reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 39th match minute, Lutterworth was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Drew Penn to maneuver through the defense. With an all-out effort, Conway Gardens's Stefan Piercy threw himself towards the right post 40 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Kurt Symons, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Kurt Symons received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 44th minute. Stefan Piercy tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After some fancy dribbling in the 46th minute, Dean Elvins managed to get in a good position for a shot. Conway Gardens's supporters rose to their feet, but Dean Elvins was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Stefan Piercy breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. If Dean Elvins had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 47th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Kurt Symons to strike the kick off in the second half. Tod Lockwood hit a great freekick 51 minutes into the match. After 59 minutes of play, Conway Gardens's Kurt Symons made it 2-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Stefan Piercy was left in no man's land by his defense there! After a rather tough play, Conway Gardens's Marc Moon got a free kick in the 61st minute. Rory Shakespeare fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 63rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Lance Rayner having to interfere. Stefan Piercy made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Dean Elvins in the 66th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in Lutterworth's zone, Dean Elvins stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Stefan Piercy came out of the goal and Dean Elvins tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 75 minutes into the game, Conway Gardens's Dean Elvins nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Stefan Piercy made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 4-0. Kurt Symons sent away a hard shot on goal in the 80th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 86th minute the ball was on its way in behind Lutterworth's goalkeeper Stefan Piercy, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Eric Lee-Barrett's late challenge caught a Conway Gardens's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Eric Lee-Barrett helped the player get up and apologised. In the 94th minute, Eric Lee-Barrett hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Kurt Symons had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 97th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. For all the effort they put into the match, the Lutterworth players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Conway Gardens.