League Play-Off

Rushden Park
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Rushden's Conal Chalmers 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. If Syd Ford had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 5th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Gav Renwick's late challenge caught a Burleyham's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Gav Renwick helped the player get up and apologised. If Ty Culverhouse had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 13th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Syd Ford in the 23rd minute of play forced Rushden's goalkeeper Fitz Illingworth to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Gary Piercy who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 25thth minute tested the skills of Ronny Woodhead when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Vic Scriven hit a great freekick 26 minutes into the match. 35 minutes in the game, Conal Chalmers fired away an excellent shot, which passed to the side of the right post without Ronny Woodhead having to interfere. 38 minutes into the match, Rushden's goal looked a bit too open when Syd Ford came free, but Fitz Illingworth reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Gary Piercy had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 39th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Gary Piercy received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 41st minute. Ronny Woodhead tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 46 minutes into the match, Burleyham's goalkeeper Ronny Woodhead had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Gary Piercy. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-1 lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Ty Culverhouse stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Ronny Woodhead took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Conal Chalmers, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Syd Ford sent away a hard shot on goal in the 60th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 61 minutes into the game, Vince Dixon was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Burleyham's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Rushden the free kick. The goalkeeper, Fitz Illingworth, was totally fooled by Burleyham's Martyn Verity, who 65 minutes into the game made a penalty shot that went in on the goalkeeper's left side. Fitz Illingworth was out of position in the 69 minute of play, and Ty Culverhouse capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Ty Culverhouse really showed his touch with that goal: 0-3. When Vince Dixon was, once again, overly rough in his play he received his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. 73 minutes had been played. After a rather tough play, Burleyham's Vince Dixon got a free kick in the 74th minute. Ty Culverhouse hit a great freekick 76 minutes into the match. Conal Chalmers fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 78th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ronny Woodhead having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in Burleyham's zone, Conal Chalmers stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ronny Woodhead came out of the goal and Conal Chalmers tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The supporters of Rushden booed when Burleyham was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 84 match minutes in a wonderful position. Gavin Dumpleton didn't get a good kick on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Conal Chalmers in the 87th minute of play forced Burleyham's goalkeeper Ronny Woodhead to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 89 minutes into the match, Burleyham's goal looked a bit too open when Conal Chalmers came free, but Ronny Woodhead reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 91st minute, Conal Chalmers 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gary Piercy in the 92nd minute of play forced Burleyham's goalkeeper Ronny Woodhead to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Syd Ford fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 94th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Fitz Illingworth having to interfere. After having played for 99 minutes, Conal Chalmers managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Rushden's supporters crossed their fingers, but Conal Chalmers was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. Burleyham walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.