League Play-Off

Whitwell Park
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Blair Cutts started the match with the kick off. After having played for 6 minutes, Dave Edmonton managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Whitwell's supporters crossed their fingers, but Dave Edmonton was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 11th minute the ball was on its way in behind Whitwell's goalkeeper Dave Sewell, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Denis Cowling's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Dave Sewell read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 16th minute of play. Dan Claydon made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Blair Cutts in the 21st minute of play. Dan Claydon made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Blair Cutts in the 26th minute of play. Dan Claydon made a fantastic save in the 28th minute, when Louis Hill sent off a good shot on target. CJ Christensen might have been able to make a better finish in the 32nd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Dave Sewell. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. CJ Christensen ran back to his position shaking his head. After some fancy dribbling in the 36th minute, Eddie Shephard managed to get in a good position for a shot. Smallfield's supporters rose to their feet, but Eddie Shephard was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Dave Sewell breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. CJ Christensen sent away a hard shot on goal in the 38th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A collision led to Whitwell getting a freekick after 40 minutes play. Louis Hill hit a great ball. Tris Britton took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 41st minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Dave Sewell. Whitwell's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. With a little luck, Smallfield's Dan Claydon got control of the ball when Dave Edmonton tried to sneak it across the goal line. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell CJ Christensen to make the kick off. Dave Sewell made a fantastic save in the 53rd minute, when Denis Cowling sent off a good shot on target. Dave Edmonton fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 55th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dan Claydon having to interfere. Dave Edmonton received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 57th minute. Dan Claydon tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. With a little luck, Whitwell's Dave Sewell got control of the ball when Denis Cowling tried to sneak it across the goal line. Dave Sewell came out of the goal in the 73rd minute to try and stop a shot by Smallfield's Denis Cowling. But to his dismay, Denis Cowling quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. If Blair Cutts had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 77th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 83rd minute, Dave Edmonton made a precise shot to the right of Dan Claydon. Smallfield's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-1. If Blair Cutts had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 88th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Dan Claydon made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Dave Edmonton in the 90th minute of play.