League Play-Off

The Banking
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Birstall Bombers's Gwyn Swift 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nat Sharpe in the 5th minute of play forced Birstall Bombers's goalkeeper Timothy Attenborough to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Rupert Beard charged in rather forcefully in the 11th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Rupert Beard the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After a rather tough play, Parkgate United's Rupert Beard got a free kick in the 11th minute. With a little luck, Parkgate United's Kelvin Reid got control of the ball when Fitz Gordon tried to sneak it across the goal line. After 12 played minutes Parkgate United got a freekick which was hit by Rupert Beard. Leon Alcock hit a great freekick 14 minutes into the match. When Rupert Beard was, once again, overly rough in his play he received his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. 18 minutes had been played. In the 18th minute, Rupert Beard hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Gwyn Swift sent away a hard shot on goal in the 21st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Leon Alcock kicked well hit freekick during the 22nd minute of the match. In the 24th match minute, Parkgate United was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Calum Pope to maneuver through the defense. Brendon Ellison's late challenge caught a Parkgate United's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Brendon Ellison helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, Birstall Bombers's Brendon Ellison got a free kick in the 29th minute. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Calum Pope during the 30th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 30th match minute, Parkgate United was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Calum Pope to maneuver through the defense. 34 minutes into the match, Birstall Bombers's Fitz Gordon sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Kelvin Reid narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Nat Sharpe's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Timothy Attenborough read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 38th minute of play. Den Blythe might have been able to make a better finish in the 39th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Timothy Attenborough. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Den Blythe ran back to his position shaking his head. Den Blythe received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 42nd minute. Timothy Attenborough tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Den Blythe recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 44th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Den Blythe to strike the kick off in the second half. Den Blythe sent away a hard shot on goal in the 57th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 59th match minute, Birstall Bombers was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Sean Lovell to maneuver through the defense. Jamie Spencer hit a great freekick 67 minutes into the match. In the 68th minute of the match Darius Trotter sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Kelvin Reid skillfully saved the ball. Birstall Bombers's Timothy Attenborough proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 71st minute of the match, managed to save Birstall Bombers from getting a goal against them. Kelvin Reid took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Fitz Gordon, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a defensive mix-up in Birstall Bombers's zone, Den Blythe stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Timothy Attenborough came out of the goal and Den Blythe tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Timothy Attenborough made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nat Sharpe in the 78th minute of play. Den Blythe fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 83rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Timothy Attenborough having to interfere. In the 88th minute Fitz Gordon shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Kelvin Reid saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Kelvin Reid showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Fitz Gordon, who was totally free with the ball in the 90th minute. Neither set of supporters seemed pleased with the draw, but both teams had played equally well today.