League Play-Off

Woolwich
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Woolwich's Ronny Hicks 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. 6 minutes into the match, Gez Bullard had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Simon Beswetherick. Birmingham City's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Gez Bullard was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-0. Gez Bullard's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Simon Beswetherick read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 11th minute of play. Woolwich's Ronny Hicks got a good chance for a goal in the 13th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Jeremy Summers kicked well hit freekick during the 14th minute of the match. Martyn Jones kicked well hit freekick during the 18th minute of the match. Gez Bullard's late challenge caught a Birmingham City's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Gez Bullard helped the player get up and apologised. 20 minutes into the match, Martyn Jones had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Ollie Sheringham. Woolwich's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Martyn Jones was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-1. Simon Beswetherick didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Philip Basterfield went, in the 26th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-1 was the resulting score. Simon Beswetherick showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ronny Hicks, who was totally free with the ball in the 29th minute. In the 30th minute, Birmingham City's Sol Buchanan seemed to kick out at an opponent. The referee saw this and, surprisingly, showed Sol Buchanan the red card, dismissing him from the pitch. The coaching staff of Birmingham City protested bitterly, but the referee would have none of it, and Sol Buchanan had no choice but to slowly walk off the pitch. 29 minutes into the game, one of Birmingham City:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. Harry Dawes shot the penalty kick right outside the post. In the 33rd minute of the match, Ronny Hicks tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Simon Beswetherick saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. A collision led to Birmingham City getting a freekick after 34 minutes play. Nath Baldwin hit a great ball. Simon Beswetherick showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Philip Basterfield, who was totally free with the ball in the 37th minute. Simon Beswetherick made a fantastic save in the 39th minute, when Benji Blewett sent off a good shot on target. Simon Beswetherick made an important save on a dangerous shot by Gez Bullard in the 40th minute. Benji Blewett came free with the goalkeeper in the 45th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Simon Beswetherick could save by the left post. Birmingham City's Simon Beswetherick played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Philip Basterfield in the 47th minute of play. A collision led to Birmingham City getting a freekick after 48 minutes play. Russell Marriot hit a great ball. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-1 at half-time.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Russell Marriot to strike the kick off in the second half. Philip Basterfield scored 3-1 in the 54th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Simon Beswetherick, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Birmingham City's Simon Beswetherick played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ronny Hicks in the 59th minute of play. Philip Basterfield sent away a hard shot on goal in the 60th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Ronny Hicks recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 62nd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 66 minutes into the match, Birmingham City's goal looked a bit too open when Ronny Hicks came free, but Simon Beswetherick reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 71 minutes into the game, Woolwich's Philip Basterfield nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Simon Beswetherick made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 4-1. Jeremy Summers charged in rather forcefully in the 75th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Jeremy Summers the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 75th match minute, Birmingham City was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jeremy Summers to maneuver through the defense. Birmingham City's Simon Beswetherick played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Eric Halloran in the 76th minute of play. Simon Beswetherick made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ronny Hicks in the 80th minute of play. Jeremy Summers hit a great freekick 82 minutes into the match. In the 84thth minute of the game Ronny Hicks who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Birmingham City's Simon Beswetherick was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. 88 minutes into the game, Philip Basterfield cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 5-1. Simon Beswetherick was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. After 90 played minutes Birmingham City got a freekick which was hit by Jeremy Summers. There were very few away supporters still in the ground by the end of the match. Most of them had left early, disgusted by the way their team had been torn apart. Woolwich fully deserved thier win.