League Play-Off

Earl Shilton Stadium
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Morpeth's Phillip Fairfax started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. After some fancy dribbling in the 8th minute, Crispin Seward managed to get in a good position for a shot. Earl Shilton AFC's supporters rose to their feet, but Crispin Seward was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Dom Woods breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Earl Shilton AFC's Scott Croxford played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Perry Wybrow in the 11th minute of play. Crispin Seward received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 14th minute. Dom Woods tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 16th minute of the match Shawn Sheringham shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Scott Croxford showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. Jools Clark charged in rather forcefully in the 17th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Jools Clark the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Damian Lightfoot recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 21st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 23 minutes into the game, Danny Christensen was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Morpeth's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Earl Shilton AFC the free kick. After a rather tough play, Morpeth's Danny Christensen got a free kick in the 23rd minute. Crispin Seward sent away a hard shot on goal in the 29th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Perry Wybrow had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 34th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Dom Woods made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Crispin Seward in the 41st minute of play. Earl Shilton AFC's Crispin Seward got a good chance for a goal in the 45th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 0-0 after a close first half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Crispin Seward stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. If Crispin Seward had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 54th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 57thth minute of the game Crispin Seward who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Morpeth's Dom Woods was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Morpeth's zone, Crispin Seward stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Dom Woods came out of the goal and Crispin Seward tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Crispin Seward struck a weak shot in the 64th minute. Dom Woods didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Earl Shilton AFC. Earl Shilton AFC's goalkeeper couldn't reach when Phillip Fairfax 69 minutes into the game got a good kick on the ball which found its way into goal just inside left pole. 0-1. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Phillip Fairfax during the 83rd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 83 played minutes Morpeth got a freekick which was hit by Phillip Fairfax. Roy Barber fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 85th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dom Woods having to interfere. Damian Lightfoot sent away a hard shot on goal in the 92nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Scott Croxford took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Phillip Fairfax, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Crispin Seward might have been able to make a better finish in the 97th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Dom Woods. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Crispin Seward ran back to his position shaking his head. The Morpeth supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Morpeth would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.