League Play-Off

The Stoke Stadium
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Glyn Parslow got the match started through his kick off. 5 minutes into the match, Dale Pilkington had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Ron Rusby. Stoke Lodge Rovers's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Dale Pilkington was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. After 12 played minutes Stoke Lodge Rovers got a freekick which was hit by Leigh Tompkins. 14 minutes into the match, Stoke Lodge Rovers's goal looked a bit too open when Mike Jackson came free, but Ron Rusby reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Mike Jackson's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Ron Rusby read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 18th minute of play. Ron Rusby showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Denzil Booth in the 19th minute of the match. Ron Rusby made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Mike Jackson in the 21st minute of play. Leigh Tompkins hit a great freekick 21 minutes into the match. If Mike Jackson had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 25th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 26th match minute, Stoke Lodge Rovers was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Leigh Tompkins to maneuver through the defense. The supporters of Skipton AFC booed when Stoke Lodge Rovers was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 30 match minutes in a wonderful position. Brandon Spink didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Mike Jackson had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 33rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Reuben Woodhead made in the 36th minute of the game a throw-in that took a bad bounce and was taken care of by Stoke Lodge Rovers's Leigh Tompkins. Leigh Tompkins was extremely unlucky when he, in the 36th minute, took a shot that hit the right post and went out. A collision led to Skipton AFC getting a freekick after 38 minutes play. Reuben Woodhead hit a great ball. The crowd rose to their feet as Rowan Pye-Finch kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Shaun Medlin. That made the score 1-1 in the 42 minute of play.

The wind increased when Mike Jackson made the kick off in the second half. A sloppy throw-in by Reuben Woodhead in the 55th minute of the game went astray and was snapped up by Stoke Lodge Rovers's Leigh Tompkins. The crowd rose to their feet as Dale Pilkington kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Ron Rusby. That made the score 1-2 in the 62 minute of play. Ron Rusby showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Mike Jackson in the 65th minute of the match. 70 minutes into the match, Stoke Lodge Rovers's goalkeeper Ron Rusby had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Dale Pilkington. Ron Rusby was out of position in the 72 minute of play, and Mike Jackson capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Mike Jackson really showed his touch with that goal: 1-3. The crowd rose to their feet as Mike Jackson kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Ron Rusby. That made the score 1-4 in the 77 minute of play. Wally Holden made in the 82nd minute of the game a fairly good throw-in which was taken care of by Mike Jackson. Stoke Lodge Rovers's Rowan Pye-Finch got a good chance for a goal in the 85th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Denzil Booth could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 88th minute of the match, but Ron Rusby made a huge save. Ron Rusby took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Mike Jackson, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Skipton AFC's Denzil Booth got a good chance for a goal in the 93rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar.