League Play-Off

Stoke-on-Trent
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Vic Brighton got the match started through his kick off. In the 3rd minute, Vic Brighton 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. In the 7th minute the ball was on its way in behind Shap's goalkeeper Gus Blewett, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 9 minutes into the game, Alf Rutherford was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Shap's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Stoke-on-Trent AFC the free kick. After 9 played minutes Shap got a freekick which was hit by Alf Rutherford. If Vic Brighton had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 10th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. After having played for 12 minutes, Vic Brighton managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Stoke-on-Trent AFC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Vic Brighton was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Shap's Rhys Armitage got a good chance for a goal in the 15th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. With his leg Gus Blewett managed to avoid a goal in the 18thth minute, when Stoke-on-Trent AFC's Lewis Fowler fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. In the 21st minute, Shap's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Lewis Fowler fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. Gus Blewett made an important save on a dangerous shot by Lewis Fowler in the 26th minute. Lewis Fowler sent away a hard shot on goal in the 35th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 37 minutes into the game, Rhys Armitage was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Shap's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Stoke-on-Trent AFC the free kick. Rhys Armitage kicked well hit freekick during the 37th minute of the match. Gregory Hornsby took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 38th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Gus Blewett. Shap's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Vic Brighton received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 41st minute. Gus Blewett tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 43rd minute, Dave Brook 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. If Vic Brighton had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 47th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Stuart Bridge made a kick off. Dylon Joy hit a great freekick 51 minutes into the match. 52 minutes into the match, Shap's John Paul Hutchinson broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. Stuart Bridge recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 54th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Stoke-on-Trent AFC's Byron Keane proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 64th minute of the match, managed to save Stoke-on-Trent AFC from getting a goal against them. After a defensive mix-up in Shap's zone, Vic Brighton stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Gus Blewett came out of the goal and Vic Brighton tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Gus Blewett made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Vic Brighton in the 68th minute of play. After some careless play in the Shap defense, Vic Brighton kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Gus Blewett. The Shap fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Gus Blewett should have stopped the shot. Gus Blewett made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lewis Fowler in the 77th minute of play. Lewis Fowler's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Gus Blewett read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 79th minute of play. Vic Brighton might have been able to make a better finish in the 80th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Gus Blewett. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Vic Brighton ran back to his position shaking his head. Gus Blewett came out of the goal in the 82nd minute to try and stop a shot by Stoke-on-Trent AFC's Vic Brighton. But to his dismay, Vic Brighton quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-0. When Stuart Bridge came up free with the goalie in the 86th minute, the Shap 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 Stuart Bridge couldn't finish the play. Basil Roche recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 92nd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Byron Keane made an important save on a dangerous shot by Basil Roche in the 94th minute.