League Play-Off

Kesgrave Park
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Dom Soares kicked off to start the match. When Kesgrave's Dom Soares in the 3rd minute got a chance for a shot 3rd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Nantwich's goalie prevented a goal. After a rather tough play, Nantwich's Dan Creighton got a free kick in the 9th minute. Albert Markham stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Dom Soares's shot from short distance in the 12th minute. After some fancy dribbling in the 13th minute, Scott Conway managed to get in a good position for a shot. Kesgrave's supporters rose to their feet, but Scott Conway was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Albert Markham breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Dom Soares fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 15th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Albert Markham having to interfere. After 16 played minutes Nantwich got a freekick which was hit by Benji Bartlett. After 20 played minutes Kesgrave got a freekick which was hit by Carl Sharpe. A collision led to Kesgrave getting a freekick after 22 minutes play. Brendon Grainger hit a great ball. After 23 played minutes, Nantwich's Dale Le Saux shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Denny Astridge 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 Nantwich reached it. In the 25th minute, Brendon Grainger hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Pete Renton's late challenge caught a Nantwich's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Pete Renton helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, Kesgrave's Pete Renton got a free kick in the 33rd minute. Denny Astridge stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Chaz Stone's shot from short distance in the 34th minute. After 41 minutes, Benji Bartlett mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Nantwich and the Kesgrave players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 41st minute, Benji Bartlett hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 44th match minute, Nantwich was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Chaz Stone to maneuver through the defense. The first half was very even, with the score at 0-0 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Chaz Stone stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Chaz Stone sent away a hard shot on goal in the 57th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Albert Markham showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Dom Soares, who was totally free with the ball in the 65th minute. In the 66th minute Chaz Stone shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Denny Astridge saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Alex Pool charged in rather forcefully in the 67th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Alex Pool the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 67th match minute, Kesgrave was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alex Pool to maneuver through the defense. In the 73rd minute the ball was on its way in behind Nantwich's goalkeeper Albert Markham, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. If Darius Titmuss had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 74th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 79th match minute, Nantwich was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Stuart Colt to maneuver through the defense. Albert Markham took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Scott Conway, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When Kesgrave's Scott Conway in the 90th minute got a chance for a shot 90th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Nantwich's goalie prevented a goal. With a little luck, Kesgrave's Denny Astridge got control of the ball when Darius Titmuss tried to sneak it across the goal line. Nantwich's Chaz Stone got a good chance for a goal in the 96th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Neither set of supporters seemed pleased with the draw, but both teams had played equally well today.