League Play-Off

Swinton Stadium
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Johnathan Preston got the match started through his kick off. In the 6th minute Jim Newbury shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tristram Bittner saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 7 minutes in the game, Johnathan Preston fired away an excellent shot, which passed to the side of the right post without Ian Longstaff having to interfere. Johnathan Preston received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 13th minute. Ian Longstaff tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A collision led to Swinton AFC getting a freekick after 16 minutes play. Ruben Merris hit a great ball. Tristram Bittner didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Micheal Groom went, in the 20th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. Tristram Bittner showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Micheal Groom in the 25th minute of the match. A collision led to Swinton AFC getting a freekick after 27 minutes play. Ruben Merris hit a great ball. In the 27th minute, Tony Rashleigh sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Swinton AFC's Tristram Bittner didn't even have to move. Tristram Bittner took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Jim Newbury, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Tristram Bittner showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Jim Newbury in the 35th minute of the match. Jim Newbury received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 40th minute. Tristram Bittner tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Tristram Bittner took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Micheal Groom, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 42nd match minute, Swinton AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Kristopher Hylton to maneuver through the defense.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Micheal Groom to make the kick off. In the 51st minute, Marlon Ambrose 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. George Shakespeare struck a weak shot in the 55th minute. Ian Longstaff didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Swinton AFC. After a defensive mix-up in Hartlepool's zone, George Shakespeare stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ian Longstaff came out of the goal and George Shakespeare tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. A collision led to Hartlepool getting a freekick after 59 minutes play. Harry Bourton hit a great ball. In the 62nd minute George Shakespeare shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ian Longstaff saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 0-2 became the score in the 68th minute when Micheal Groom elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. Ian Longstaff took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Marlon Ambrose, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After some fancy dribbling in the 80th minute, Johnathan Preston managed to get in a good position for a shot. Swinton AFC's supporters rose to their feet, but Johnathan Preston was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ian Longstaff breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After a rather tough play, Hartlepool's Leo Clarke got a free kick in the 81st minute. Jim Newbury's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 87thth minute, Tristram Bittner skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. After 90 played minutes Swinton AFC got a freekick which was hit by Johnathan Preston. Tristram Bittner made an important save on a dangerous shot by Jim Newbury in the 94th minute. 96 minutes in the game, Micheal Groom fired away an excellent shot, which passed to the side of the right post without Tristram Bittner having to interfere. The Hartlepool supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Hartlepool would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.