League Play-Off

Leyland Stadium
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The supporters of Leyland booed when Alex Park FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 3 match minutes in a wonderful position. Byron Calder didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 5th minute, Frank Pickard made a precise shot to the right of Carlton Booker. Alex Park FC's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-0. Byron Calder hit a great freekick 9 minutes into the match. In the 11th minute of the match Will Hargreaves shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Carlton Booker showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. Leyland's Stephen Bator played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rodney Forrest in the 13th minute of play. The supporters of Alex Park FC booed when Leyland was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 17 match minutes in a wonderful position. Vance Waite didn't get a good kick on the ball. When the match clock showed 21 minutes, the score became 1-1 when Eddy Pell sped through Leyland's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Stephen Bator. In the 24th minute the ball was on its way in behind Leyland's goalkeeper Stephen Bator, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 29 minutes into the match, Leyland's goal looked a bit too open when Rodney Forrest came free, but Stephen Bator reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Leyland's Stephen Bator played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Tristram Kenna in the 32nd minute of play. In the 33rd minute, Rodney Forrest ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Stephen Bator was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-2. After 38 minutes of play, Alex Park FC's Tristram Kenna made it 2-3 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Stephen Bator was left in no man's land by his defense there! Stephen Bator showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Eddy Pell in the 41st minute of the match. Eddy Pell sent away a hard shot on goal in the 43rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The Leyland players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Alex Park FC were winning 2-3.

In the 56th minute Will Barnfield shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Carlton Booker saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Carlton Booker showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Len Mayo, who was totally free with the ball in the 57th minute. Leyland's Stephen Bator proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 60th minute of the match, managed to save Leyland from getting a goal against them. Carlton Booker took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Will Barnfield, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Rodney Forrest received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Stephen Bator came out and tried to block the shot, but Rodney Forrest slotted it home off the left post making it 3-4 in the 68th minute. Carlton Booker made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Frank Pickard in the 76th minute of play. Tristram Kenna blasted a shot towards the goal in the 77th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Stephen Bator having to make a save. With his leg Stephen Bator managed to avoid a goal in the 79thth minute, when Alex Park FC's Eddy Pell fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. 80 minutes into the match, Leyland's goal looked a bit too open when Rodney Forrest came free, but Stephen Bator reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Frank Pickard in the 86th minute of play forced Alex Park FC's goalkeeper Carlton Booker to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Stephen Bator showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Tristram Kenna in the 88th minute of the match. The long shot by Dylon Stobbs in the 91st minute really tested Stephen Bator's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal. Eddy Pell fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 92nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Stephen Bator having to interfere. In the 95th minute, Stevie Briant hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 96 minutes into the match, Leyland's Len Fowler broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. Alex Park FC's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.