League Play-Off

Westbourne
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Kev Claydon took the kick off in the first half of the match. Rupert Cooper showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Kev Claydon, who was totally free with the ball in the 9th minute. Bruce Chiverton took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gareth Broadhurst, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Kev Claydon kicked well hit freekick during the 18th minute of the match. Noel Hardy fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 20th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rupert Cooper having to interfere. If Gareth Broadhurst had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 23rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ivor Gray's late challenge caught a Romford City's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Ivor Gray helped the player get up and apologised. 27 minutes into the match, Westbourne's goal looked a bit too open when Kev Claydon came free, but Rupert Cooper reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 29 minutes into the match, Romford City's Kev Claydon sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Rupert Cooper narrowly saved just below the crossbar. 30 minutes into the game, Gareth Broadhurst recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Bruce Chiverton. Gareth Broadhurst showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-0. Kev Claydon sent away a hard shot on goal in the 34th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Gareth Broadhurst's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Bruce Chiverton read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 37th minute of play. Trevor Woodford struck a weak shot in the 39th minute. Rupert Cooper didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Romford City. Westbourne's Rupert Cooper played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Noel Hardy in the 41st minute of play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Cliff Mortimer during the 43rd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 43rd minute, Cliff Mortimer hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 44th minute, Lee Burns sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Westbourne's Rupert Cooper didn't even have to move. In the 48th minute, Ivor Gray hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 49 minutes into the match, Romford City's Lee Burns broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 1-0.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Gareth Broadhurst made a kick off. In the 61st minute, one of Romford City:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Romford City. Philip Rowling shot the penalty kick right outside the post. In the 67thth minute of the game Thom Perkins who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Romford City's Bruce Chiverton was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. The audience was convinced that Gareth Broadhurst's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Bruce Chiverton was relentless in the 74th minute of the game. 76 minutes into the match, Romford City's goal looked a bit too open when Thom Perkins came free, but Bruce Chiverton reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Kev Claydon was extremely unlucky when he, in the 79th minute, took a shot that hit the right post and went out. Noel Hardy fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 84th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rupert Cooper having to interfere. Gareth Broadhurst fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 92nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Bruce Chiverton having to interfere. Bruce Chiverton came out of the goal in the 93rd minute to try and stop a shot by Westbourne's Thom Perkins. But to his dismay, Thom Perkins quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-0. In the 98th minute of the match Timothy Abbotts sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Bruce Chiverton skillfully saved the ball. Romford City's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.