League Play-Off

Harris Merton Arena
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Jeff Perkins got the match started through his kick off. A collision led to Congleton getting a freekick after 3 minutes play. Jeff Perkins hit a great ball. Conan Wilkins came out of the goal in the 7th minute to try and stop a shot by Congleton's Francis Bailey. But to his dismay, Francis Bailey quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. After 12 minutes, Francis Bailey made it 0-2 with a short kick to the right side. Selhurst FC's Conan Wilkins tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. Conan Wilkins stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Francis Bailey's shot from short distance in the 17th minute. After 18 played minutes Selhurst FC got a freekick which was hit by Keith Cook. Selhurst FC's Conan Wilkins played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Francis Bailey in the 22nd minute of play. 23 minutes into the match, Selhurst FC's Jools Potterton sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Rueben Blake narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Conan Wilkins showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Jeff Perkins in the 28th minute of the match. After having played for 31 minutes, Jools Potterton managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Selhurst FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Jools Potterton was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Jeff Perkins sent away a hard shot on goal in the 35th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 37th minute Francis Bailey shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Conan Wilkins saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 38th minute, Jools Potterton managed to get in a good position for a shot. Selhurst FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Jools Potterton was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Rueben Blake breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Francis Bailey scored 0-4 in the 41st match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Conan Wilkins, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. The supporters of Selhurst FC booed when Congleton was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 45 match minutes in a wonderful position. Sean Jones didn't get a good kick on the ball. Jeff Perkins sent away a hard shot on goal in the 47th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Disappointed in the 0-4 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Jools Potterton to strike the kick off in the second half. Jeff Perkins received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 52nd minute. Conan Wilkins tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Francis Bailey could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 55th minute of the match, but Conan Wilkins made a huge save. In the 56th minute, Jools Potterton 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. Francis Bailey scored 0-5 in the 58th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Conan Wilkins, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Selhurst FC's Conan Wilkins proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 68th minute of the match, managed to save Selhurst FC from getting a goal against them. With a little luck, Selhurst FC's Conan Wilkins got control of the ball when Francis Bailey tried to sneak it across the goal line. Abraham Monk fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 80th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rueben Blake having to interfere. After some fancy dribbling in the 88th minute, Adrian Davis managed to get in a good position for a shot. Congleton's supporters rose to their feet, but Adrian Davis was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Conan Wilkins breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Jools Potterton might have been able to make a better finish in the 90th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Rueben Blake. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Jools Potterton ran back to his position shaking his head. With an all-out effort, Congleton's Conan Wilkins threw himself towards the right post 94 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Jeff Perkins, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. Congleton walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.