League Play-Off

Kesgrave Park
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when David Slade got the match started through his kick off. A collision led to Kesgrave getting a freekick after 5 minutes play. Brendon Grainger hit a great ball. After having played for 6 minutes, John Paul Bakewell managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Eltham United's supporters crossed their fingers, but John Paul Bakewell was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. David Slade sent away a hard shot on goal in the 10th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. John Paul Bakewell struck a weak shot in the 11th minute. Denny Astridge didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Eltham United. Keith Stevens showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Dom Soares in the 15th minute of the match. Dom Soares received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 16th minute. Keith Stevens tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Sacha Oddy kicked well hit freekick during the 23rd minute of the match. David Slade kicked well hit freekick during the 26th minute of the match. Denny Astridge showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from John Paul Bakewell, who was totally free with the ball in the 31st minute. John Paul Bakewell's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Denny Astridge read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 38th minute of play. Eltham United's Keith Stevens played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Dom Soares in the 41st minute of play. In the 46th minute David Slade 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. In the 47th minute, Kesgrave's Dom Soares dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 2-0. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 2-0.

The wind increased when Dom Soares made the kick off in the second half. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Dom Soares in the 54th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Keith Stevens saved Eltham United from getting behind. When Scott Conway came up free with the goalie in the 58th minute, the Kesgrave 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 Scott Conway couldn't finish the play. In the 61stth minute of the game Dom Soares who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Eltham United's Keith Stevens was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Denny Astridge showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from David Slade in the 66th minute of the match. Scott Conway might have been able to make a better finish in the 71st minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Keith Stevens. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Scott Conway ran back to his position shaking his head. If Dom Soares had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 72nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Dylon Butters hit a great freekick 76 minutes into the match. Keith Stevens 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 83rd minute. The audience was convinced that David Slade's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Denny Astridge was relentless in the 85th minute of the game. 90 minutes into the match, Eltham United's Mark Willets sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Denny Astridge narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Scott Conway struck a weak shot in the 91st minute. Keith Stevens didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Kesgrave. Deon Edworthy charged in rather forcefully in the 98th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Deon Edworthy the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After a rather tough play, Eltham United's Deon Edworthy got a free kick in the 98th minute. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Kesgrave had won after a very even match.